"Do you think this lifestyle is compatible with an elite cyclist?": Fernando Gaviria is sentenced to two months of conditional imprisonment for driving under the influence of alcohol

The week had started with Fernando Gaviria in the media spotlight for sports reasons. His signing with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA aimed to relaunch his career after leaving Movistar. But the Colombian is back in the news for a very different matter. Just 24 hours after announcing his incorporation into the Navarre team, it has been revealed that he was sentenced in Monaco to two months of probation for driving under the influence of alcohol and committing several traffic violations.

Fernando Gaviria sentenced to two months of probation in Monaco

The events date back to October 22, when the police of the Principality stopped the cyclist at a roundabout in Monaco after detecting reckless driving. According to local press, Gaviria was driving in the wrong direction, crossed a solid line, and failed to yield at several points. The intervention took place in broad daylight, around 1:15 PM.

The breathalyzer test showed a rate of 1.18 mg/l in exhaled air, which is equivalent to about 2.40 g/l in blood, a figure five times higher than the legal limit and which the president of the court, Florestan Bellinzona, described as “a public threat” and even asked him if his "lifestyle is compatible with that of an elite cyclist."

The sprinter appeared without a lawyer, defending his version before the Monegasque court. He acknowledged the facts and admitted that they are not compatible with the life of a professional athlete: “It was my mistake, I won’t do it again,” he declared. He also explained that he was going through “work stress and family problems” and that he had only slept a few hours before getting behind the wheel.

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Due to his condition, according to judicial sources, the officers had to wait several hours for his intoxication to decrease before continuing with the detention process.

Following the recommendations of the prosecution, the court imposed 2 months of probation, a ban on driving for 2 years in Monaco, a fine of 5,000 euros, and three additional fines of 45 euros each.

So far, neither Gaviria nor Caja Rural-Seguros RGA have issued statements on whether the case could influence his arrival at the team or his sports planning for 2026.

The 31-year-old Colombian has joined Caja Rural after three irregular years at Movistar and a 2025 season without victories and without presence in grand tours. His incorporation aims to open a new chapter in his career, marked by his 7 victories in the Giro and Tour and by his status as one of the great sprinters of the last decade.

In the team's announcement, Gaviria expressed his motivation for this new beginning: “I felt a lot of excitement in the conversations and I trust I can contribute to the team. I would like to win again and compete in a grand tour.”

It remains to be seen whether this sentence will alter his schedule or affect his adaptation to the Navarre team, which hoped to count on him as one of its key figures for fast finishes.