1 week Ago By Vincent Daheron
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 rider was struck while powering solo over a cobbled section with 33 kilometres remaining in the prestigious one-day classic, often called ‘The Hell of the North’.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today “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.
But before that, Van der Poel called for manslaughter charges. “We can’t let this pass. It was a full bidon, and it hurt a lot.
If I take that bidon on my nose, it’s broken,” he told media outlet Sporza. “Hopefully, the police can identify the man because there has to be a trial for this. “This is attempted manslaughter.
If the UCI doesn’t take action, then we will do it with the team.” More to come ..
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