'Physical block' the only way to stop riders using paths instead of cobbles

Classics organisers must "physically block" cyclists from avoiding the cobbled roads for the smooth shoulders because it "is the only solution," say teams.

The UCI issued a 200 Swiss Franc fine to each of the 15 cyclists in the lead group, including eventual winner Philippe Gilbert (Quick Step Floors), in the Three Days of De Panne's first stage on Tuesday. They had avoided the cobbles in favour of the smooth sidewalk ahead of the Berendries.

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In another incident, Marco Haller (Katusha) cut through the inside of a curve in Geraardsbergen ahead of the Muur. Though he was still riding on cobbles, he nearly ran into a spectator.

"I know, I was a former rider. If the area is open, the riders will take it," Lotto-Soudal sports director, Frederik Willems told Cycling Weekly.

"It's up to the UCI and the organisation to block the roads. Besides the Tour of Flanders, the shoulder is never blocked on the climbs. Why do they block it in Flanders and not the other races? We need to physically block them, that is the only solution."

The UCI introduced new rules for 2014 prohibiting riding "off-road" after several incidents with spectators.

Inconsistency helped give way to confusion and rogue cyclists. In the recent Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, critics bashed the lead group with Greg Van Avermaet, Peter Sagan and Sep Vanmarcke for riding on the pavement instead of the cobbles.

"If they see Greg and Peter on the paths and they don't get punished, the riders think, why should we not also do it?" added Willems. "There is only one solution, blocking the path next to the cobblestones."

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"They give all the men in the breakaway fines yesterday, but then you see the main group doing the same and they are not punished," said Quick-Step Sports Director Rick Van Slycke. "And there were other incidents gone unpunished, like when riders were pacing behind cars after the Muur to rejoin.

"To control all of it you need many race commissioners on motorbikes, and it becomes impossible to have so many men and to police everything.

"When they go on the sidewalks with people then I think they should be fined because that's not allowed and it's not good. Barriers? Yes, but that's not possible for them to do everywhere."

Italian Filippo Pozzato (Wilier-Selle Italia) had not realised that the jury fined his colleagues for riding on the sidewalk. Regardless, he said that he does not do so.

"Why do they do it? Because they're stupid!" he said with a laugh.

"The UCI has its new rule in the last two years says that you can't ride on sidewalks, but everybody goes on them and they never give a fine, so it serves very little.

"Some go over the roundabout. If you're going over the roundabout then you need to be disqualified, otherwise the rules serve nothing."

Trucks carrying racks of barriers rolled westwards down the E40 motorway yesterday evening to prepare for the Three Days of De Panne's second stage today. It is an "impossible" solution to put them everywhere, however.

"The rider's they will try to pass anywhere. It's impossible to put barriers everywhere. Some riders are just stupid and they go anywhere and risk everything all the time," continued Pozzato.

"The rule has to be followed, otherwise there's no point having a rule."