Video: Spectator throws water bottle at Dutch cyclist during Paris-Roubaix race
Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel is calling for legal action after a spectator threw a full water bottle at him during the final stretch of Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, according to RTL and Nu.nl. The 30-year-old, who was leading the race at the time and riding at 50 kilometers per hour, was struck in the face but remained upright and went on to claim his third consecutive win in the historic one-day race.
Later that evening, the man responsible for throwing the bottle turned himself in to Belgian authorities. A spokesperson confirmed to the Belgian Het Nieuwsblad that the individual reported to the Mira police zone in West-Vlaanderen. His identity has not been released, but officials believe he is Belgian. According to Belgian media, the man expressed regret and claimed he acted in a “moment of madness.” He has already been questioned by police.
Speaking to Belgian broadcaster Sporza, Van der Poel said: “It was a full bidon and it hurt a lot. If I had taken that bottle to my nose, it would’ve been broken. (…) This is something different than having beer thrown at you. This was attempted manslaughter.”
Video footage captured the moment the bidon was launched at Van der Poel’s face. Spectators interviewed by Sporza reported that the act appeared to come from a group of intoxicated youths.
The French cycling federation told VTM Nieuws that it plans to file a criminal complaint. Alpecin-Deceuninck is also considering legal steps, and Belgian media expect the team to press charges by Monday. Van der Poel and the organizers of Paris-Roubaix may also submit separate complaints.
Van der Poel insisted the matter must be dealt with seriously. “There has to be a trial. This is attempted manslaughter. If the UCI doesn’t prosecute, we might do it with the team ourselves,” he said.
Team manager Philip Roodhooft said legal action is a strong possibility but emphasized that public authorities must take the lead. “I think it’s first and foremost up to the authorities to try and handle this,” Roodhooft said. “Maybe this is more of a societal problem than a cycling problem.”
This is not the first time Van der Poel has faced abusive behavior from spectators. During last year’s edition of Paris-Roubaix, a woman threw a cap at his bike. In the Tour of Flanders, he had beer thrown on him. At a cyclocross race in Hulst in December 2023, he was hit with both beer and urine. And just last month, during the E3 Saxo Classic, he was spat on.
Despite the assault, Van der Poel managed to secure an emphatic solo victory. His main rival, Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia, crashed out after misjudging a turn. “That’s part of racing,” Van der Poel said. “I reacted quickly and went for it.”
From that point, Van der Poel raced the final 40 kilometers alone, eventually entering the Vélodrome André Pétrieux for a solo lap of honor. He suffered a puncture and lost radio contact with his team during the last 30 kilometers. “My radio wasn’t working, so it took a while before the team car knew,” he said. “For a long time I didn’t even know how big my lead was. I really suffered through those last 30 kilometers.”
