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Riders who ignored the red light at a level crossing during the men's Tour of Flanders could face fines and short driving bans, according to Belgian media. The incident occurred in Wichelen, where the light turned red just as the peloton approached, causing a split in the group.
After a train passed, barriers lifted, allowing the peloton to regroup over the next four kilometers, although a 13-rider breakaway maintained its lead, gaining a two-minute advantage. The race continued without further significant disruption.
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), who won the race, and Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), who finished third, were in the front group during the incident. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) were caught behind and forced to stop.
Pogačar expressed frustration, saying the situation was chaotic as three individuals waved for them to halt just before the crossing. He questioned why the warning was not given sooner, suggesting better precautions could have prevented the confusion.
The East Flanders Public Prosecutor's Office aims to identify the riders involved in this incident, as normal traffic regulations require stopping at red level crossing signals, regardless of the barriers.
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