Paris-Roubaix 2025, the apology of the water bottle thrower: "I don't know why I did it"

Rome, 17 April 2025 - La Paris-Roubaix 2025 leaves behind images of great sport, but also some that everyone would like to forget: starting with the person who was the protagonist of an act that received unanimous condemnation. Throwing a full water bottle towards the future winner Mathieu van der Poel It raised a storm worthy of the French race: from the initial indignation to the threats of taking legal action up to the repentance of the perpetrator of the act.  

Apologies from the 'fan' who hit Van Der Poel

  Apparently, it concerns a 28-year-old Belgian who spontaneously handed himself over to the police. West Flanders the day after what was effectively the last spring stage of Van der Poel, who will soon temporarily leave the road to dedicate himself to mountain biking. The (repentant) scoundrel first wrote a private letter to theAlpecin-Deceuninck (also engaged in the hunt for new sponsors for the future), who had reported him at the time when theUCI entered the scene with the assessments of the case, and then, through its lawyer Peter Desmet, entrusted the Flemish newspaper The Latest News his mea culpa. "First of all I want to apologize to Van der Poel in person. I'm happy that he managed to win, despite my stupid gesture. But at the same time I also apologize to every cyclist and fan". These are the incipits and the apologies, before the explanation of a gesture that, in fact, has no explanation. "I saw the water bottle on the ground, perhaps a junior rider had left it. I picked it up without thinking and, when I saw Van der Poel, I had this absurd reaction. I don't know why I did it. I've been asking myself that question ever since, but I can't give a reason. I can only say that it was an impulsive and extremely foolish action". The 'fan' in question, apparently, in that stretch located at 33,1 km from the finish line of Roubaix, was hidden among the Slovenian supporters of Matej Mohoric but, at the same time, denies any connection with an alleged parochial hatred that would involve his compatriot Wout van aert. "I'm not a fan of his and, in general, I don't have a favorite runner. I felt bad when I hit Van der Poel, regretting it immediately: I feared that it could fall. Now I know that I am at the center of a media storm. Everyone is talking about me and I know that I made a mistake: I will pay the consequences, but I hope that the situation will calm down soon". In reality, it is not the first time that Van der Poel is the object of the launch of objects of various kinds. Just to stay within the 2025, E3 Sax Classic, another match then won, the Dutchman had been hit by the spit of another 'fan' and, to add insult to injury, the matter could end with a negligible fine of up to 350 €. A year ago instead, always at the Paris-Roubaix, the son and grandson of art had been hit by the cap thrown by a 'fan'. We will see in 2026 what the current king of the cobblestones will be targeted by.

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