The Alpecin-Deceuninck team and the international cycling union reacted this Monday to the gesture that indignant the planet cycling: the can of the cans which Mathieu Van der Poel during Paris-Roubaix was the day before, which he still won. The body also called for the responsibility of spectators by the road.
The world of cycling makes front of the triple winner of North Hell. In the aftermath of his new demonstration on the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix, Mathieu Van der Poel was at the center, without his knowledge, of a now judicial case.
As he opened the race 33km from the finish, the Dutchman was the victim of a jet of can, who reached him in the face. While an investigation was opened by the Lille prosecution for “violence with weapon”, Mathieu Van der Poel’s team Alpecin-Deceuninck, announced that it was a complaint.
“We will continue to follow the evolution of the internal legal proceedings, so that these behaviors do not receive more attention than they deserve,” simply communicated the Belgian training.
An “unacceptable behavior”
A few moments after his sacred in Roubaix, the runner himself had denounced this act seen live on television. “It is unacceptable. He was a full can, he weighed half a kilo and I was driving at 40km/h. It’s like receiving a stone in the figure,” he deplored.
And to add: “It hurt me very much. I hope we can identify the spectator and take prosecution.”
According to Belgian media, a 28 -year -old man presenting himself as the author of the can spontaneously presented himself to the Belgian police on Monday, in the province of West Flanders. He would have expressed regrets.
After receiving the support of many actors in international cycling, Raymond Poulidor’s grandson was supported this Monday afternoon by the UCI. In a press release, the body and associations representing the families of cycling “firmly condemned any attack on the physical integrity of the runners” and in particular this “unacceptable behavior”.
Paris-Roubaix: Van der Poel, undisputed king of northern hell, dominates Pogacar!
“The UCI and the representatives of the families of cycling express all their support for the runner and will explore, in connection with the competent authorities, all the legal paths at their disposal so that such a behavior is duly and severely sanctioned, as has already been the case in the past,” said the press release.
“The UCI and the families of cycling call for everyone’s responsibility and invite all spectators to show the greatest vigilance when they attend a test, in order to guarantee the security of all the actors, as well as the smooth running of the races.”
This is not an isolated case. The Dutch runner has already been targeted by spectators, in Belgium and France, receiving spitting, beer but also a cap and even urine, a year ago, already in Paris-Roubaix.
Maria Azé with Théo Putavy
