Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosas was expelled from the Montreal World Championship and fined 1,060 euros after his team car sped through a tight section of the course. The car briefly lifted its wheels off the ground. Fans pressed against the barriers watched as it passed dangerously close.
The incident happened during the men’s junior road race. Benjamín Noval was riding strongly and appeared on course for a clean win when the Spanish car fell behind. Anguita accelerated to catch up, taking a risk that could have ended much worse.
Race organizers checked the video while commissaires reviewed every frame. The Spanish car was going too fast and too close to the crowd. One witness called it "deeply alarming." Dutch newspaper AD reported that officials acted quickly. Anguita was banned from the rest of the championship and fined. The UCI disciplinary commission cited article 2.12.007.6.3, which addresses violations involving the movement of vehicles during a race, as the basis for the sanction. The UCI post-race communiqué and the commissioners’ decision were cited as primary sources. Anguita is also a former professional cyclist.
The fallout for Spain’s team is impressive: Anguita cannot coach for the rest of the Montreal event, leaving the junior squad without its leader at a basic moment. Noval’s win faded into the background as attention turned to team responsibility and how such incidents are allowed to happen.
Problems with support vehicles are nothing new in cycling, and safety lapses continue to surface at major events. Earlier reports said Spain was still grappling with transport and regulation. The issue extends beyond sport to the enforcement of rules, from races to business.
Organizers took action over the reckless driving. The incident has put safety and discipline at the center of discussion around Spanish cycling.
