The mystery is solved: why was Pogacar fined more than €5,000 and why was the sanction annulled?

The fine imposed on Tadej Pogacar after his victory in Liège-Bastogne-Liège stemmed from a very specific detail in his equipment and an incorrect interpretation of the current regulations by the UCI commissioners. The penalty, set at around €5,400, was annulled within hours.

The Real Reason for Pogacar's Fine and Why the UCI Had to Withdraw It

The key was not in the rainbow jersey itself, as we initially interpreted, but in a much more specific detail. As revealed by the Belgian media Sporza after investigating the case, the focus of the infraction was in the wrist area, where a visible sponsorship linked to Pogacar's personal agreement with the watch brand Richard Mille appeared. Those logos on the long sleeves of the jersey were initially considered out of regulation.

The UCI regulations state that the world champion jersey is an element under the direct control of the organization, with very precise restrictions on the location, size, and distance of commercial logos from the rainbow stripes. In this context, any addition in unauthorized areas can lead to a financial sanction, especially in official acts like the podium, where media visibility is at its maximum.

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However, the regulatory context has recently changed. The UCI had introduced a relaxation in the clothing rules that allowed certain additional elements, including sponsorships in previously restricted areas. This regulatory adjustment, which was already in effect, was not correctly applied by the technical commissioner present at the event, who acted under the interpretation of the previous regulations.

This discrepancy in the practical application of the rule explains the quick rectification. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG defended the legality of the equipment used, relying on the updated regulations, which led to the withdrawal of the sanction and the elimination of the case from the official jury report.

So there was no technical irregularity on the part of the rider nor an ambiguous interpretation of the limits of the rainbow jersey, but rather a lack of internal alignment within the UCI regarding which regulations were in effect at the time of the race.