Mathieu van der Poel was the victim of a bottle being thrown. © APA/afp / JEFF PACHOUD

Van der Poel on bottle throwing: “Attempted manslaughter”

Cycling star Mathieu van der Poel was hit with a water bottle at Paris-Roubaix. The bottle-thrower at the cycling classic has now turned himself in to the police.

14 April 2025

From: cst/dpa

A spokesman for the West Flemish public prosecutor’s office said Het Nieuwsblad A man reported himself to the police, saying he was very sorry about the incident. No further action has been announced yet.

The man had eventual winner Mathieu van der Poel on Sunday, a full water bottle was thrown in his face. The incident was clearly visible in the TV broadcast.

Van der Poel spoke clearly at the finish line. "I hope the perpetrator is found. I think he should be brought to justice, because this was attempted manslaughter." It wasn't the first attack of this kind. Last year, a woman had thrown a cap at van der Poel's bike, and he had been showered with beer at a cross-country race and the Tour of Flanders. Another time, the classics specialist was spat on. These incidents may have stemmed from his rivalry with Belgian Wout van Aert.