Pogacar Among Riders Under Investigation After Running Red Light During Tour Of Flanders

Tadej Pogacar is among nan riders being investigated for moving a reddish ray astatine a railway crossing during nan Tour de Flanders connected Sunday. Pogacar, who won nan race for a record-equalling 3rd time, was successful a group of riders who went done nan crossing without stopping. Most of nan peloton down them had to extremity earlier nan railway.

Belgian officials confirmed connected Monday location was an investigation into nan riders who allegedly ran nan reddish light. They said nary further specifications were instantly available. Local media said nan riders could look a good and driving suspension if recovered guilty.

Pogacar, who rides for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, said aft nan title that nan awesome for them to extremity came successful excessively late. “Suddenly 3 guys jump connected nan mediate of nan roadworthy and commencement waving to stop,” he said. “How tin you extremity successful 1 second? I deliberation they could forestall this by stopping america before, no? Not 10 metres earlier nan crossing. I was thinking: ‘Maybe it’s for illustration immoderate protesters aliases thing crazy is going on.’”

The Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported that nan East Flanders nationalist prosecutor’s agency intended to prosecute nan riders, who could beryllium deed pinch fines ranging from €320 to €4,000 (£279 to £3487) and a driving prohibition of 8 days.

Race officials ordered nan riders who went done to slow down truthful nan remainder of nan peloton could drawback up to them again.

Also known arsenic De Ronde (the Tour), nan Tour of Flanders is 1 of cycling’s astir challenging one-day races and was first held successful 1913. This year’s 278km (172.7-mile) way featured 16 short but punishing climbs and respective cobblestone sections.

The title is 1 of nan “monuments” of cycling – nan 5 astir prestigious one-day events successful nan athletics – on pinch Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and nan Giro di Lombardia.