Overview

• Mathieu van der Poel was struck in the face by a nearly full water bottle thrown by a drunken spectator during the Paris-Roubaix race on April 13, 2025.
• Despite the incident, van der Poel continued racing and achieved his third consecutive victory in the prestigious event.
• The 28-year-old Belgian fan turned himself in to police on April 16 and issued a public apology, admitting he acted impulsively after drinking heavily.
• French authorities have launched an investigation, with the Lille public prosecutor's office pursuing charges of 'violence with a weapon' against the perpetrator.
• The International Cycling Union and van der Poel's team condemned the act, highlighting a pattern of dangerous fan behavior and advocating for stricter safety measures at cycling events.