The East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office will take legal action against cyclists who ignored a red light at a level crossing during the Tour of Flanders cycling race on Easter Day. Rail network operator Infrabel is unhappy with the incident and believes it sets a “bad example.”
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Prosecutors to prosecute cyclists who ran red light at rail level crossing during the Tour of Flanders (VIDEO)
Colin Clapson
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The public prosecutor’s office will identify the cyclists and issue charge sheets. An investigation will determine who will be prosecuted. Since this is a fourth-degree offence, offenders can be summoned to appear before a judge in a police court.
Fourth-degree offences are the most serious violations of the traffic code, for which, in principle, you are always summoned to appear in a police court. Fines range from 400 to 5,000 euros. The judge also always imposes a driving ban of at least 8 days.
The incident occurred when the Tour of Flanders reached Wichelen (East Flanders). Part of the peloton crossed a level crossing whilst the lights were already on red. This large group of riders included favourites Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel. Slovenia's Pogacar went on to win the Tour of Flanders for a third time.
The other half of the peloton did, however, come to a halt and were therefore briefly held up.
The incident is unlikely to have had much impact on the race, but rail network operator Infrabel is not pleased, because riding through a closed level crossing is extremely dangerous.
‘Traffic regulations are clear: if the lights at a level crossing are on red, you must stop. That’s the case in everyday life, and it naturally applies in a cycling race too,’ says spokesperson Frédéric Petit.
He points to a serious accident involving a 14-year-old girl just a few days ago at a level crossing in Kapellen (Antwerp Province).
Before and during the race, there is close consultation with the police and traffic control HQ, says Petit. If the police judge that safety is at risk, Infrabel can temporarily halt train services.
‘The police or traffic control contact us so that we can stop the train for a few minutes. That did not happen at this level crossing.’ Why that did not happen is unclear.
‘Then you end up with a situation like this, when the first part of the peloton passes the closed barrier and a second part has to wait. That is, of course, not a good example.’
Petit goes on to say that, during the safety briefing ahead of the race, team managers were reminded of the traffic rules at level crossings. ‘In everyday life, these offences carry severe penalties,’ he says.
In addition to the public prosecutor’s office, the UCI cycling federation may also impose penalties and fines.
According to the letter of the regulations, the riders who rode through the red light should have been removed from the race. It did not come to that, given the size of the group involved and the chaos.
‘The luck of the herd,’ VRT sports commentators say. ‘If just three of them had been caught, they would have been taken out of the race.’