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Belgian Spectator Apologizes for Throwing Bottle at Mathieu van der Poel During Paris-Roubaix

The incident, now under investigation as 'violence with a weapon,' did not stop van der Poel from securing his third consecutive victory in the race.

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Mathieu van der Poel (L) won his third Paris-Roubaix title on Sunday
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Overview

  • A 28-year-old Belgian man admitted to throwing a water bottle at Mathieu van der Poel during the Paris-Roubaix race on April 13, 2025.
  • The man, who was intoxicated at the time, described his action as 'stupid and dangerous' in a public apology issued on April 16, 2025.
  • French authorities have opened an investigation into the incident, classifying it as 'violence with a weapon,' and are pursuing legal action.
  • Van der Poel, struck in the face while riding at high speed, denounced the act as unacceptable and called for stricter measures against dangerous fan behavior.
  • Despite the incident, van der Poel demonstrated resilience by winning the race for the third consecutive year, a feat praised by his team, Alpecin-Deceuninck.