By Vincent Daheron
PARIS -French justice officials have launched an investigation after cycling champion Mathieu van der Poel had a plastic bottle hurled at his face during his triumphant ride to a third consecutive Paris-Roubaix victory on Sunday.
“An investigation was opened into the charge of violence with a weapon in order to identify and arrest the perpetrator,” Lille prosecutor Carole Etienne said on X.
The Dutch Alpecin-Deceuninck rider was struck while powering solo over a cobbled section with 33km remaining in the prestigious one-day classic, often called “The Hell of the North”.
“It’s not normal. It was a full bottle, it’s maybe half a kilogram and I rode 50kph, it was like a stone hitting my face,” the visibly angered Van der Poel told reporters on Sunday.
“This is just not acceptable. If they spit or throw beer, it’s also unacceptable but that’s a different story. This is really something we have to take legal action against.”
Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reported on Monday that the spectator who launched the projectile has since surrendered to Flemish police.
Cycling’s governing body the UCI expressed its support for the former world champion.
“The Union Cycliste Internationale and the associations representing the families of cycling unanimously condemn, in the strongest terms, the unacceptable behaviour of a spectator during the 122nd edition of Paris-Roubaix from the side of the road on 13 April,” the UCI said in a statement on Monday.
“Such behaviour cannot be tolerated in the context of a cycling event.
“The UCI and representatives of cycling’s families express their support for the rider and will explore, in conjunction with the competent authorities, all the legal channels at their disposal so that such behaviour is duly and severely punished, as has already been the case in the past,” it added.
“They will take the same action in the future against any act that threatens the physical integrity of riders.”
SANCTIONS REQUESTED
Alpecin-Deceuninck said later on Monday that they were seeking sanctions over the bottle throwing, describing it as “a dangerous and unacceptable incident.”
“We will be filing an official complaint against the perpetrator to formally denounce this behaviour,” a team statement read.
“This issue goes beyond that single act. Too often, we observe that such misconduct is either caused by or accompanied by excessive alcohol consumption.
“It jeopardises the safety of our riders, overshadows the enjoyment and reputation of genuine cycling enthusiasts, and diverts attention from the sporting achievements.”
(Reporting by Vincent Daheron. Additional reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Ken Ferris)
