It was supposed to be a regular practice run for the Brazilian cycling team ahead of their race at the Toronto Pan Am Games. Instead, the team wound up with a police motorcade, and being escorted off of one of the city's busiest expressways.

Toronto Police said they received a call just before 10 a.m. Sunday morning about a group of cyclists riding northbound on the 90-kilometre-per-hour Don Valley Parkway.

When police caught up with the cyclists on the DVP around Bloor Street, they discovered the cyclists were nine members of the Brazilian road cycling team, clad in their uniforms, and out for a practice ahead of their scheduled event.

Story continues below advertisement

Detective Sergeant Devin Kealey said the team had been cycling on Eastern Avenue, which is not far from the Pan Am athletes village, when they noticed a "wide open" ramp.

"They were looking for a one-hour ride and just happened to come up on the DVP, and it looked all good," he said.

Det. Sgt. Kealey said the group rode on the shoulder the entire time, and co-operated with the TPS officers who eventually escorted them off the expressway at Don Mills Road.

No one was injured in the incident, and police are not planning on charging any of the cyclists.

"They were extremely co-operative and apologetic," Det. Sgt. Kealey said. "Looking back, we're glad everyone was okay. But we have no doubt they will not be cycling again on the DVP."

Normally, cycling on a highway is a contravention of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, Det. Sgt. Kealey said, and comes with a $110-fine.