Cycling world champion Mathieu van der Poel, while competing in a Cyclo-cross World Cup race in the Netherlands, allegedly spat at a group of spectators accused of hurling urine at him in a viral video
Despite securing his seventh consecutive victory in the race, the event was marred by unsavory incidents, with the road race world champion reacting strongly to the alleged abuse.
Cyclist Mathieu van der Poel spits at fans after they throw urine at him, video goes viral
🤯 Holy smokes 💥
Mathieu van der Poel attacking HARD into one of the most technically challenging sections of this course ⚡️
The style, the souplesse, the POWER 🥊#MVDP #Diegem
🎥: @flobikes pic.twitter.com/PizMgWsqzk
— Atlanta Rouleur Collection (@AtlantaRouleur) December 28, 2023
The moment Mathieu van der Poel 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙩 at the Hulst crowd 😱#CXWorldCup pic.twitter.com/yK5MI1avAf
— Eurosport (@eurosport) December 30, 2023
Criticism on social media initially targeted Van der Poel, but some supporters defended him, asserting that he was consistently booed by the group of spectators throughout the race.
The cyclist reportedly faced hostility from rival Belgian fans and, during his final lap, responded by spitting at a group of spectators. Supporters came forward on social media, claiming that the Belgian fans had been throwing urine and beer at Van der Poel.
Calls for a lifetime ban on the unruly spectators surfaced, with one fan expressing, “They should be banned from all races for life.” Another emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “I hope these people are found and punished.”
Van der Poel, after the race, condemned the behavior of the fans, asserting that there is no place for booing in cycling.
Expressing his frustration, he said, “I’m done with that bunch of booers too. It was continuous, even during the warm-up process.
“Then it is better to stay at home. I’m done with all the booing. Just ask them what they shouted. I am not going to repeat that. This has no place in sports. No one should receive boos. After a while, it was enough, also for me.”
Who is Mathieu van der Poel?
For unversed, Mathieu van der Poel is a Dutch professional cyclist competing in cyclo-cross, mountain biking, and road racing disciplines.
Born into a family of professional cyclists, he has achieved notable success in his career, with a family background that includes his father Adri, a former Dutch National Champion and World Cyclo-cross Champion, and his maternal grandfather, French cyclist Raymond Poulidor, a prominent figure in cycling history.
Van der Poel made his cyclo-cross debut during the 2009–10 season, gradually rising to prominence in the sport.