Lot Soudal's Herm Vanhocke is seeking information on a driver who claims he was assaulted while out training on Saturday.

The coronavirus outbreak in Belgium has led to a ban on non-essential travel, but bicyclists are allowed to travel alone.

The 22-year-old posted on his Facebook page that he was riding on the Aalbeeksestraat in Aalbeek in West Flanders, just across the border from Roubaix, when a large man, about 40 to 50 years old, driving a black van, forcibly pulled him off the road and assaulted him. He posted that he was assaulted.

"[The man] got out aggressively and when I urged him to keep his distance, he deliberately punched me in the face several times and stormed off. This is not normal during the corona [virus] season. If anyone knows this person, please send a message."

The incident occurred five days after an Italian rider, who is also allowed to train outdoors, was harassed by a driver. Cycling for sport and fitness purposes is widely discouraged in Italy to avoid the risk of accidents and injuries that could consume vital medical resources, and Spain has banned outdoor cycling altogether.