Reports in Belgium say the driver involved in an incident with Philippe Gilbert in which he broke his finger was not drunk. He claims the rider pepper sprayed him (Photo: Sirotti)

After suffering a fractured finger in a training ride altercation in Belgium in recent days, former world champion Philippe Gilbert and his BMC team said two men attacked him and were drunk.

However, reports emerging in the local media report Belgian police confirming the two men – who encountered Gilbert while they were driving – were not intoxicated.

And one of the men has said the rider used a pepper spray on him.

If his allegations stand up to scrutiny the star rider may face further action as the possession and use of incapacitant sprays in Belgium is restricted and carries penalties including fines, possible criminal conviction and prison time.

Gilbert, who required surgery to his finger, was out training in Belgium with team mate Loïc Vliegen on Friday when the incident occurred, according to a statement from the team in recent days.

It confirmed Gilbert’s finger was fractured and that he had already had surgery on it.

The statement explained what the team claimed happened: “Gilbert was training with Loïc Vliegen in Belgium when the two riders were targeted by two intoxicated men in a car.

“One of the men stepped out of the car and acted aggressively towards Vliegen and Gilbert, fracturing Gilbert’s middle finger on his left hand in the process.”

However the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper has reported what it says is information from the police in Verviers stating neither of the men with whom the riders clashed were drunk.

The riders were out training on the Liège-Bastogne-Liège course and were near Theux when the incident took place.

Another report in the Belgian Het Laatste Nieuws newspaper carried quotes from a man it says was the driver of the vehicle, adding that he claims to have filed a complaint against Gilbert.

The driver said when he encountered Gilbert he was with two other riders, adding they were taking up the full width of the road meaning the vehicle could not overtake them for several kilometres.

But when the car passed, the chance encountered turned nasty, though the precise detail is disputed.

“When I honked, they insulted me,” the driver was quoted as saying.

“I slowed down and the riders came next to me. I wanted to talk to them, I had my window open, but the youngest of them tried to hit me.”

The driver added he drove on and stopped up the road in Theux where the incident continued and escalated.

“They beat us and used a spray,” the driver was quoted as saying. “I didn’t hit them and I was not drunk.”