Professional Cyclists Fined for Traffic Violations During Training Camp in Spain

This report details incidents where professional cyclists training in Spain's Costa Blanca region faced penalties for violating traffic laws. Ten riders from the Groupama-FDJ team were reportedly issued €100 fines for allegedly passing through a red light, an event that became public through a deleted social media post by one of the cyclists. This follows a previous incident where a Decathlon CMA CGM rider received a similar fine for cycling while using earphones, indicating a concerted effort by Spanish authorities to enforce road regulations among the influx of professional teams conducting winter training in the area.

The Costa Blanca region of Spain, particularly around Alicante, is a popular destination for professional cycling teams to hold their annual winter training camps due to its favorable climate and diverse terrain. This season, however, has seen an increase in traffic enforcement targeting these athletes. The latest incident involved ten cyclists from the Groupama-FDJ team. Reports suggest that these riders were stopped by police in Llíber, a small village near Calpe, and each received a €100 fine for allegedly failing to stop at a red light. The event gained attention when Ewen Costiou, a 23-year-old rider, shared a photo and a lighthearted comment about the fine on Strava, which was later removed.

David Gaudu, another Groupama-FDJ team member, also commented on the incident, questioning the team's adherence to traffic laws. The Strava activity logs of the involved cyclists reportedly showed a significant slowdown in their passage through Llíber, supporting the claim of a police intervention. French cycling news outlet Cycling.mag further corroborated that the fines were specifically for running a red light on the village's narrow main road, which is known for its alternating one-way traffic system.

This episode is not isolated. Just a week prior, Johannes Staune-Mittet, a promising rider for Decathlon CMA CGM, was fined €200, reduced to €100 for prompt payment, for using Apple AirPods while cycling near Calpe. Spanish traffic laws explicitly prohibit both motorists and cyclists from using headphones or similar devices that impair hearing. Staune-Mittet also humorously shared his experience on Strava, suggesting that cyclists might need to opt for less conventional ear-free headphones to avoid such penalties in the future. These events highlight a growing strictness from Spanish law enforcement regarding traffic violations by professional cyclists, possibly viewing them as a significant source of revenue, or a necessary measure to maintain road safety during peak training periods.

These recent incidents involving Groupama-FDJ and Decathlon CMA CGM cyclists underscore the importance of professional athletes adhering to local traffic laws, even during training. The Spanish authorities in the Costa Blanca region are demonstrably enforcing regulations, leading to fines for violations such as running red lights and using electronic devices while cycling. Such enforcement actions serve as a reminder to all road users, including elite athletes, that road safety protocols are to be respected universally.