With lock-down measures eased in Spain and other parts of Continental Europe Alejandro Valverde has been among those pro cyclists able to train outside again.
However, the Spanish road race champion said while he believed he was riding within the less stringent Covid19 restrictions still in place on his first day permitted outside, he saw an "agent" looking at him and taking down details.
While some Spanish media outlets have suggested Valverde was fined, the rider himself said he is not sure if he will receive any notice of an alleged infringement.
Cyclists are allowed to train outside again but they must stay within their home municipal area, meaning their movements are still partially restricted.
There are fines for those who are found outside their home areas and Valverde (Movistar) believes the official he encountered recognised him and made a note of where he was riding.
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"I think it was legal because to follow the route, I had to necessarily go through the place where I was stopped," the former world champion told Spanish Eurosport.
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"The agent recognised me and took the data, but I do not know if the complaint will reach me or not. It was the first day (cycling outside was permitted) and the first day they already hunted me."
If Valverde is judged to have been riding outside the zone permitted and he is fined as a result, he would be the second former world champion to suffer that sanction.
Last month Philippe Gilbert (Lotto-Soudal) said when he rode outside in Monaco on a small lap he was stopped and fined €100. He said he accepted the fine and that he should have led by example in adhering to the restrictions.
Meanwhile, Valverde has said he will overdo his training at the moment because the professional peloton would not be racing for a long time.
"I think I will take part in two or three classic races
and could be Strade-Bianche or Milano-Sanremo," he has said of his race
plans.
Strade Bianche is scheduled to be the first pro race to take place, on August 1st, under the UCI’s revised calendar of events after the Covid19 restrictions are eased enough to allow competition again.
"I will also try to be in the Tour de France, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Fleche Wallonne and the Vuelta. The world championships are also part of my calendar," Valverde added.
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