Riders slapped with large post-Brexit fees

Cycling groups charged thousands upon arrival after falling foul of new customs rules, reports James Shrubsall

- James Shrubsall

Five-and-a-half thousand euros or go home. That was the ultimatum given by Spanish customs officers when Owen Watkins of Bagman Cycling travel company turned up at Santander on the ferry from Portsmouth with nine bikes in the van.

The bikes weren’t company property – Watkins and colleague Martin McGreary were simply couriering them over while the bikes’ owners flew. They had even been told by HMRC that an ATA Carnet – which is essentially a passport for goods – would not be needed. Unfortunately, the Spanish customs officers thought differently.

As autumn approaches, it sets a concerning precedent for British cyclists wishing to head to the Continent for some off-season sun.

“It was effectively just a money-grabbing exercise,” Watkins says. “They weren’t interested in establishing that we were or weren’t going to sell the bikes. It was just a simple, ‘We can impound the bikes and take them off you; or you pay; or you can get on the next ferry home,’ which clearly wasn’t an option.

“We do [similar trips] in France and Italy,” he adds, “and we’ve never had any problems bringing bikes in at all, including this year.”

Taking back control