One of the most dramatic editions of the Tour of Flanders delivered both a historic cycling milestone and an ongoing disciplinary controversy on Sunday, as defending champion Tadej Pogacar secured a record-equalling third title in the men’s race while facing a potential official probe over a red light violation at a railway crossing.
The incident, which occurred with more than 200km remaining in the 278km contest, saw as many as 20 riders, including Pogacar and race favorite Remco Evenepoel, cross the level crossing after warning lights had activated. Officials had signaled the peloton to halt ahead of an oncoming train, but the front group slipped through the crossing while chasing early breakaway riders. The East Flanders public prosecutor’s office confirmed to BBC Sport that it has launched an official investigation into the event.
Pogacar, the 27-year-old Slovenian cycling star, defended the group’s actions, arguing that race officials failed to give competitors sufficient advance warning to come to a complete stop. “Suddenly three guys jump in the middle of the road and start waving to stop,” he explained to reporters after the finish. “How can you stop in one second? I think they could prevent this by stopping us before, not 10 metres before the crossing. I was thinking, maybe it’s like some protesters or something crazy is going on.”
Local Belgian media reports indicate that if found responsible, the riders could face penalties ranging from fines of 320 euros to 4,000 euros, as well as an eight-day driving ban. The outcome of the investigation remains pending as of press time.
Regardless of the disciplinary outcome, Sunday’s result cemented Pogacar’s place in cycling history. The win marks his third Tour of Flanders title, drawing him level with Mathieu Van der Poel and six other all-time greats at the Belgian Monument. More importantly, it pushed his total number of Monument victories – the five most prestigious one-day events in men’s road cycling – to 12, putting him clear of Roger de Vlaeminck (11 wins between 1970 and 1979) to claim outright second place on the all-time list. Only Belgian legend Eddy Merckx, who holds 19 Monument titles, sits ahead of Pogacar now.
The race itself was a showcase of elite cycling skill, with the decisive move coming 57km from the finish line, when Pogacar, Van der Poel and Evenepoel dropped the rest of the elite field with a blistering acceleration on the second ascent of the iconic Oude Kwaremont climb. Evenepoel, making his Tour of Flanders debut, could not match the pace on the subsequent Paterberg climb and drifted back from the leading pair, eventually finishing third behind the two front-runners. The Slovenian and Dutch champion worked together for nearly 40km before Pogacar launched his race-winning attack on the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont. He crested the climb with a six-second advantage and held on to finish 34 seconds clear of Van der Poel, denying the Dutch star a record fourth Tour of Flanders title. Evenepoel, the double Olympic champion, held off Belgium’s Wout van Aert to round out the podium in his first appearance at the race.
Pogacar’s incredible 2026 season continues without a loss: he has now won all three races he has entered this year, including Milan-San Remo last month, giving him two Monument wins in two starts this season. Next weekend, he will line up at Paris-Roubaix aiming to make more history: a victory there would make him only the fourth male rider ever to win all five Monument races, following the Belgian legends Eddy Merckx, Rik van Looy, and Roger de Vlaeminck. “It was a really crazy race today. I don’t know what to say – super-hard from I don’t know which kilometre,” Pogacar told Belgian television after the finish. “I don’t race too much, so when I race there is pressure to win. So far everything went perfect for me, so I can be more than happy. Coming next week to Roubaix, I can go motivated, but I try to enjoy the cobbles.”
In the accompanying Women’s Tour of Flanders, European champion Demi Vollering claimed her third career Monument title with a dominant solo victory. The 29-year-old Dutch rider mirrored Pogacar’s winning strategy, dropping her challengers on the Oude Kwaremont climb to open a 19-second gap over her closest pursuers, France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Dutch rising star Puck Pieterse. She extended her advantage all the way to the finish, crossing the line 45 seconds clear of Ferrand-Prevot, who beat Pieterse in a sprint for second place. Three-time winner Lotte Kopecky of Belgium finished fourth, 1 minute 4 seconds off Vollering’s winning time.