During the Tour of Flanders ten days ago, a spectator threw beer at Mathieu van der Poel. The perpetrator has been identified, and according to the newspaper “La Derniere Heure” a procedure for “assault” will be launched. The prosecution has not yet confirmed.
A spectator who threw beer at Mathieu van der Poel during the Tour of Flanders ten days ago has been identified and will be the subject of legal proceedings for “assault and battery”, according to the Belgian newspaper The last hour Tuesday. Contacted by AFP, the prosecution did not confirm the information but the boss of Le Ronde, Thomas Van der Spiegel, had affirmed after the race that a “civil procedure would be initiated when the beer throwers were identified”.
On Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, as at the Tour of Flanders the previous week, two races which he won alone, “MVDP” was targeted by beer jets, insulted, and was the target of insulting gestures. On the Hell of the North, the world champion was also targeted by a cap thrown towards his wheels by a spectator.
“I felt like I was hit by something.”
Always according to The last hour, the author of this dangerous gesture has been identified and should be heard by the French police this week. “I felt that I was hit by something white”, explained Raymond Poulidor’s grandson in interview area Sunday. “Apparently everyone doesn’t like me riding in the lead. But I don’t care. These people throwing beer at me are feeling some frustration, I think. But I don’t want to care.”
Despite this incident, the reigning world champion won the Tour of Flanders for the third time in his career. He is the seventh runner in history to have achieved this feat. He won with more than a minute ahead of his nearest opponent, which had not happened since 2013.