The UCI commissioners have fined Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 250 Swiss francs after spitting at a bunch of booing spectators throughout the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Hulst on Saturday.
The World Champion said following the race that his actions have been in response to the behaviour of a bunch of spectators towards him throughout the race, “Even throughout the warm-up. I’ve had sufficient of these boos,” he stated.
The Dutchman was requested if he would later remorse his actions, and he replied: “After some time, it is sufficient, even for me.”
Van der Poel attacked on the third lap and pulled out a profitable margin earlier than stress-free on the final lap of the World Cup in Hulst. Nonetheless, whereas taking his final lap applause, the Alpecin–Deceuninck rider was pictured spitting at a bunch of spectators, who he claims had been booing him all afternoon.
The organisers of the race expressed their disappointment relating to the spectators’ misconduct, saying, “Some of these spectators don’t belong on our cross [race].” In addition they confirmed that the identical spectators additionally pushed two of the occasion’s press photographers.
“Greater than 22,000 spectators noticed how the Netherlands added color to each elite phases, with winners Puck Pieterse and Mathieu van der Poel taking middle stage. Sadly, there was additionally a darkish aspect to this stunning day. One which actually tempers the euphoric feeling,” the organisers wrote in a publish on Fb.
“A number of amongst these hundreds of different – exemplary – supporters felt it crucial not solely to taunt and pelt Mathieu van der Poel with beer. Two press photographers have been additionally carelessly pushed into the water by a bunch of miscreants. As a corporation we’re very clear about this: these kinds of individuals don’t belong on our [event] or on some other cyclo-cross course or sports activities competitors.”
The organisers said that they’d take measures to forestall spectator misconduct at their future occasions.
“In any case, we can’t enable the great identify of our competitors to be destroyed by these people. Have a really completely satisfied New Yr, and we might like to see you all, with these exceptions, again subsequent 12 months.”
