Tadej Pogacar Faces Legal Action and Driver’s License Loss After Flanders Tour Win

Tadej Pogacar, the 27-year-old Slovenian cyclist and world champion, is facing potential legal penalties and the loss of his driver’s license following his victory at the Tour of Flanders on April 5, 2026.

The East Flanders public prosecutor’s office has announced it will pursue legal action against Pogacar and up to 20 other cyclists who failed to stop at a railway crossing during the race.

Legal and Financial Exposure

The investigation centers on an incident in Wichelen, which occurred approximately 65 kilometers into the 278-kilometer race. According to reports, Pogacar, Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, and several other riders ignored red warning lights at a level crossing.

The legal repercussions for the riders involved may include:

• A driving ban of at least eight days.
• Fines ranging between 400 and 5,000 euros.
• The requirement for Pogacar and his teammates to appear in court in person.

The East Flanders public prosecutor’s office stated that the offenders will be identified and a report will be filed for breaching road safety rules.

Regulatory and Safety Context

Under the regulations of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body for cycling, riders are required to stop at level crossings when the warning light is red. While the UCI can impose disqualification for such infractions, this outcome is considered unlikely given the large number of riders involved in the incident.

The Belgian track cycling organization has criticized the behavior of the professional cyclists. Frédéric Petit, a spokesman for the organization, noted that the rules apply to cycling races and that the riders set a very bad example to the 1.5 million Flemish people watching the race, particularly in the context of ongoing safety awareness campaigns regarding level crossings.

Rider Response and Race Outcome

Pogacar defended his actions, stating that he and other riders were alerted to the red light too late. He described the situation by saying, Suddenly, three guys jumped in the middle of the road and started waving to stop. How can you stop in one second, adding that he initially thought the people were protesters.

Despite the legal controversy, Pogacar won the Tour of Flanders, marking his third victory in the event and equalling a record. He secured the win after dropping his primary rival, Mathieu van der Poel, with 18 kilometers remaining in the race.

This victory follows his win at Milan-San Remo in March 2026, giving him two wins in the season’s prestigious one-day classics. With this result, Pogacar has reached 12 Monument victories, placing him second on the all-time list behind Eddy Merckx, who holds 19.