A dangerous move by Spain’s junior cycling coach at the Montreal World Championship led to his expulsion and a steep fine. The incident took the spotlight from Benjamín Noval’s win and put safety in the hot seat.
Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosas is out. The Spanish junior cycling coach was kicked out of the Montreal World Championship and hit with a 1,060 euro fine. His team car shot through a tight section of the course, wheels off the ground for a split second. Fans pressed against the barriers watched as the car came far too close for comfort.
This happened during the men’s junior road race. Benjamín Noval was riding strong, looking set for a clean win. The Spanish car had fallen behind. Anguita floored it to catch up. That rush of adrenaline led to a risky decision. It could have ended much worse.
The UCI disciplinary commission cited article 2.12.007.6.3, which specifically addresses violations involving the movement of vehicles during a race, as the basis for Anguita's sanction.
Race organizers checked the video. Commissaires reviewed every frame. The evidence was clear. The Spanish car was going too fast, too close to the crowd. One witness called it "deeply alarming." Dutch newspaper AD reported that officials acted fast. Anguita was banned from the rest of the championship. He also got a financial penalty.
The fallout for Spain’s team is real. Anguita can’t coach for the rest of the Montreal event. The junior squad is now without its leader at a key moment. Noval’s win faded into the background. The focus shifted to team responsibility and how these things are allowed to happen.
Problems with support vehicles are nothing new in cycling. Safety lapses keep coming up at big events. According to earlier reports, Spain is still wrestling with how to handle transport and regulation. The issue goes beyond sports. It’s about how rules are enforced everywhere, from races to business.
Multiple publications confirm that Anguita Hinojosas is not only a coach but also a former professional cyclist, which heightened the resonance of the incident within the cycling community. The official UCI post-race communique and the commissioners' decision were cited as primary sources for the sanction, emphasizing the seriousness with which the governing body treats safety violations.
This case makes one thing clear. Safety comes first. The organizers didn’t hesitate. Even when emotions run high, reckless driving is not tolerated. Spanish cycling has a lesson to learn. Discipline matters everywhere, not just on the bike.
