The 257-kilometre race, called the "Hell of the North," includes 29 sections of cobblestones, which require special control of the bicycle and more effort than a usual road race.
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, most of the drug trafficking offences carry a minimum of 5 years jail term with 5 strokes of the cane and a maximum of 30 years and 15 strokes of the cane.
Starting the race from the ninth position due to a five-place grid penalty over a gearbox change, the defending champion - Britain's Lewis Hamilton - rounded out the podium.