Vincenzo Nibali was stopped by police while he was training in the Sicilian forests on New Year's Day.

Dura lex sed lex. Never has this classic Roman law been more appropriate than it was for Vincezo Nibali on New Year's Day. The former winner of all three grand tours was training in the Sicilian forests when the police took action. Nibali had returned to Sicily between two training camps to celebrate the holidays with his family and was making use of the many rolling roads in the area. He was accompanied by his brother Antonio and two other friends.

They were riding up a small climb "in Villafranca Quattro Strade and saw a sign that warned of the presence of ice on the road, but we thought it was not for bikes, only for cars who had been adviced to descend in the opposite direction," Nibali told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I was doing a specific job and was very concentrated. We met a police car and I saw that they followed us until we stopped at the roadside. I was asked for my documents. I was very surprised by what happened and gave them the necessary explanations," Nibali added.

The incident was a misunderstanding. "I do not want any privilege," said the Sicilian who could continue his training without further complications. "The absurdity is that cars quietly drove down the other lane."