News of Fernando Gaviria’s conviction for driving under the influence broke on Tuesday through reporting in Monaco-Matin, coinciding with confirmation of his transfer to Caja Rural-Seguros RGA. The Colombian sprinter, who has endured a difficult period at Movistar, received a suspended prison sentence for an incident that took place in October on the streets of Monaco.
A serious offence committed in broad daylight
According to details presented in court and reported by Monaco-Matin, Gaviria was stopped on 22 October after officers witnessed dangerous manoeuvres at the Canton roundabout, including failing to yield, crossing a solid line and briefly driving the wrong way. Police noted immediate signs of intoxication and recorded a breathalyser reading of 1.18 mg per litre of exhaled air, equivalent to roughly 2.40 g of alcohol per litre of blood. The legal limit is 0.25 mg.
Presiding judge Florestan Bellinzona told the rider he had been “one or two drinks away from a coma”, describing him as “a public menace”, comments relayed by Monaco-Matin. The timing of the offence heightened concern, occurring at approximately 1.15pm with busy traffic and pedestrians using the same junction.
Gaviria admitted in court that he had consumed several Moscow Mule cocktails earlier in the day, believing after a few hours’ sleep that he felt well enough to drive. “It was a mistake on my part. I will not do it again,” he said, cited by the paper, while also referring vaguely to stress from work and family issues.
The judge questioned whether such behaviour was compatible with the life of a professional athlete. Gaviria conceded that it was not.
Prosecutor calls it “a public danger”
Monaco-Matin also reported the remarks of Mathias Marchand, the first deputy public prosecutor, who expressed surprise that a rider with Gaviria’s career record, including seven Grand Tour stage wins, was appearing for an offence of this severity. Marchand emphasised that committing such an act in the middle of the day, in traffic, made the situation “a public danger”.
He requested a two-month suspended prison sentence, a 5,000 euro fine, a two-year driving ban within Monaco and several smaller fixed penalties. After deliberation, the court endorsed the full set of recommendations.
A new start at Caja Rural now overshadowed
Only hours before the court appearance, Gaviria’s new contract with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA was announced. The move had been interpreted as a chance to relaunch a career that has stuttered in recent seasons. After joining Movistar in 2023 with hopes of regaining his top-level sprinting form, he struggled with inconsistency and a lack of victories.
Caja Rural, operating at ProTeam level, had positioned the 31-year-old as a cornerstone signing, expecting him to lead their sprinting ambitions while offering experience to a younger group of riders. The team has invested notably ahead of 2026, aiming for regular race wins, wildcard appearances and a more assertive style of racing built around opportunistic breakaways and discipline in positioning.
The fact that the conviction came to light at the very moment the transfer was being publicised lends the move a more complicated complexion. Although the offence predates his agreement with the Spanish team, it inevitably raises questions about Gaviria’s form, discipline and readiness to re-establish himself.
Caja Rural has not yet commented publicly on the court ruling. Gaviria has also offered no further remarks since the hearing.
For a rider once regarded as one of the most naturally gifted sprinters of his generation, the coming months will determine whether this new chapter becomes a genuine route back or simply another staging point in a career now defined as much by its turbulence as its early triumphs.
