A spectator hurled a water bottle at Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel during the Paris-Roubaix 2025 race, hitting him in the face.
The 28-year-old man, who remains anonymous, has since apologized to Van der Poel in a letter and spoke to Het Laatste Nieuws through his lawyer.
He admitted to being drunk and acting impulsively, throwing the bottle without thinking.
The spectator, a Belgian national, turned himself in to the police.
In his message to Van der Poel, he expressed relief that the cyclist finished the race first despite the incident.
He acknowledged that his actions were stupid and dangerous.
Van der Poel was not seriously injured but was understandably upset by the incident.
“I was cycling at 40 km/h, and it felt like being hit with a rock,” he said.
The full water bottle weighed around half a kilo, making the impact significant.
Legal Action
The Alpecin-Deceuninck team announced it will file a complaint against the spectator.
The Lille Public Prosecutor’s Office has also launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred about 33 kilometers from the finish line in Roubaix.
Van der Poel hopes the spectator is identified and faces legal consequences.
The incident has sparked outrage among cycling fans and officials.
Cycling is a popular sport that requires skill, endurance, and strategy.
Events like Paris-Roubaix attract top athletes worldwide.
The sport has a dedicated fan base, with many spectators attending races in person.