Another car joins cycling race course - Just days after riders protest over safety worries, footage emerges of another concerning moment
Cycling
A car joined the course of stage one of the 2026 Eneco Tour on Wednesday, as a TV broadcast clip showed the vehicle on course ahead of the breakaway. The incident comes just days after riders protested over safety concerns following similar instances in recent weeks.
The latest worrying moment came with around 70 kilometres to go as the cameras showed the breakaway riding. However, ahead of the bunch, a car appears to be driving on the course as motorbike marshals attempt to instruct the driver to pull off the road.
However, on the narrow road, the car slowly finds a place to pull in, with the breakaway riders soon passing the vehicle at close range. The clip has surfaced on social media during the race. There have been no confirmed reports of any riders impacted by the incident.
Four days ago, Remco Evenepoel and Tom Pidcock spearheaded a rider-organised protest at the start of il Lombardia as they called on the UCI and race organisers to increase safety measures at races.
Otra vez... 🤦♂️ Un vehículo se cuela en la etapa del Eneco Tour apenas 4 días después del plante de los corredores en Lombardía. #EnecoTour #LaCasadelCiclismo https://t.co/CcyQEn9aMI
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) October 14, 2026
Worrying moment comes just days after rider protest
Following a number of events in recent weeks and months, incidents included vehicles entering the course at both Coppa Bernocchi and Tre Valli Varesine this past week. These events come after the tragic passing of Finlay Tarling at the Volta ao Portugal in August after being struck by a car that entered the course.
Ben Healy was also among the organisers of the demonstration, and claimed the protest's message is simple, the sport's governing body should better enforce safety standards within races.
He revealed that all teams were behind the show of solidarity as he stressed the power riders have to take a stand on the issue.
Read also
Ben Healy on rider protest
“With what’s happened this week and this summer, especially, I think there’s a consensus in the peloton that not enough is being done by particularly the UCI,” Healy said after Il Lombardia.
“I think this is just us standing together to show we’re not happy. We didn’t want to affect the race today at all or upset the organisers, but we just wanted to show the power that we have as riders and the voice that we have. Every single team on the start line today all voted to do that this morning, so it’s a particularly strong feeling. I think hopefully it was heard.”
Meanwhile, Tim Merlier went on to take victory at the end of the day's Eneco Tour stage, dominating the print to take a comfortable victory. Jakob Soderqvist started the day in the leader's jersey and will once again wear it on Thursday.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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