Offender confesses to Belgian authorities for throwing water bottle at Mathieu van der Poel during Paris-Roubaix cycling event
In the thrilling 2025 Paris-Roubaix, Mathieu van der Poel, the three-time consecutive winner, faced an unexpected obstacle: a bottle thrown by a spectator while he was leading solo. Despite the unexpected incident, van der Poel maintained his composure and went on to win the race.
The identity of the man who threw the bottle remains a mystery, as his name has not been publicly disclosed. However, the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) and van der Poel's team, Alpecin-Deceuninck, have vowed to use "all the legal channels" to penalize this spectator for the assault.
This is not the first time van der Poel has been a victim of such behaviour from the roadside. Last year, a spectator attempted to throw a hat into his back wheel during Paris-Roubaix, and beer was thrown over him during the same race. He has also been spat at during the E3 Saxo Classic.
The Belgian branch of the CPA riders union, led by secretary general Bert Scheirlincx, has shown a firm stance against such behaviour. They pursued legal action against fans who threw beer at van der Poel during the Tour of Flanders last year. Scheirlincx has expressed a desire to pursue legal action against rude fans who spoil the atmosphere of cycling events, stating, "We want something done about fans who spoil the atmosphere for everyone."
The BPCA (Belgian Professional Cyclists' Association) shares this sentiment. They have announced their preparedness to go all the way with civil action to punish certain rude fans. This stance was reiterated by van der Poel himself, who described the impact of the bottle as feeling like a stone hitting his face and stated that the incident was unacceptable, calling for legal action to be taken.
Interestingly, a man has handed himself in to Belgian police in West Flanders for throwing a full bottle of water at Mathieu van der Poel during Paris-Roubaix. The incident occurred on the Templeuve-en-Pevele cobbled sector, and while it did not destroy the fun van der Poel had during the race, it did add an unwelcome element to an otherwise challenging and historic event.
Despite the legal proceedings, it's worth noting that the UCI has not been mentioned as pursuing legal action against the spectator. The speed at which van der Poel was travelling across the cobbles may have contributed to the impact of the bottle, but thankfully, nothing is mentioned about any injuries sustained by van der Poel as a result of the incident.
As the sport of cycling continues to grow in popularity, incidents like these serve as a reminder of the need for spectator etiquette and respect for the athletes. The actions taken by van der Poel's team, the CPA, and the BPCA demonstrate a commitment to ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment for all participants in cycling events.
In light of the incident, the UCI and van der Poel's team have vowed to use "all the legal channels" to penalize the spectator for disruption caused during sports events, signifying a commitment to maintaining order and respect in sports. The BPCA shares this sentiment, announcing their willingness to go all the way with civil action against such disruptive fans.
