"Feeling embarrassed for several days" - Bottle-throwing man at Paris-Roubaix cycling race expresses remorse and apology
In the aftermath of the 2021 Paris-Roubaix, an unidentified man has issued an apology for throwing a water bottle that struck Mathieu van der Poel, the eventual winner, during the race.
The incident occurred on sector eight, Templeuve-Moulin-de-Vertain, as van der Poel was soloing to victory after Tadej Pogačar had crashed out of contention. The man, who initially picked up the bottle without thinking, admitted that it was still partially full and had some liquid in it when he threw it.
The apology was made in a letter to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, but the specifics of the apology were not detailed in the available search results. However, the man expressed regret and shame for his actions, attributing them to "too much to drink."
The UCI, cycling's governing body, has called for legal action against the man, and plans to file an official complaint. Alpecin-Deceuninck, van der Poel's team, and the UCI spokesperson have also announced their intention to file complaints against the perpetrator.
The UCI spokesperson stated that such behavior cannot be tolerated in the context of a cycling event. The man's lawyer, Peter Desmet, has confirmed that the man will take legal responsibility for his actions.
In his post-race press conference, van der Poel described the incident as feeling like a "stone hitting his face." He was later seen on television wiping his face with a towel. The man who threw the bottle denies wanting to block van der Poel's opponent, and does not have a favourite rider.
The man had previously handed himself in to the police, and his lawyer has suggested they would prefer to settle the matter among themselves, but understands it is a matter of principle. The man apologized to van der Poel in his letter.
This incident has caused a media storm, with the man fearing the consequences of his actions. The cycling community and fans alike have condemned the behaviour, which has marred an otherwise thrilling race. The UCI will continue to explore legal channels to punish the man's behaviour and ensure such incidents do not occur in future cycling events.
The man, who apologized for throwing a water bottle during the 2021 Paris-Roubaix, expressed regret and shame due to "too much to drink." Following the incident, which struck eventual winner Mathieu van der Poel on sector eight, Templeuve-Moulin-de-Vertain, causing him to feel like a "stone hitting his face," the cycling community and fans alike have condemned such behavior, viewing it as unacceptable in the context of sports.
