A man has turned himself in to Belgian police after a water bottle was thrown at Mathieu van der Poel during Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix race.
The Dutch cyclist was struck in the face while leading the race with around 23 miles remaining, as he navigated a narrow, cobbled section lined with spectators.
The suspect reported to a police station in West Flanders on Monday.
Despite the incident, Van der Poel went on to claim his third consecutive Paris-Roubaix victory — matching the record for most wins in a row — and later likened the impact to being “hit by a stone.”
Speaking after the race, he added: “The bottle was nearly full, it weighed about half a kilo. When someone throws something like that, it’s not nothing.”
Public prosecutor Filiep Jodts confirmed to BBC Sport: “We can confirm that the man presented himself to the police. An official report has been drawn up and his statement recorded. The Public Prosecution Service will decide in the coming days what further action will be taken.”
Van der Poel managed to brush off the incident and finished more than a minute ahead of his long-time rival, reigning Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar.
The 30-year-old Dutchman, who now boasts eight Monument victories — putting him level with Pogacar — has found himself at the center of several run-ins with spectators in recent years.
In December 2023, he spat at fans during a cyclocross race in the Netherlands, explaining afterward that he was fed up with being booed and having liquids thrown at him.
The following April, a beer was thrown at him during the Tour of Flanders, and in March this year, he was spat on during the E3 Saxo Classic in Belgium.
“Something needs to be done,” Van der Poel said on Sunday. “People spitting and throwing things — it’s too much. I’m going to ask for action to be taken.”
Paris-Roubaix, known as one of cycling’s five Monument classics, draws around 500,000 roadside spectators each year. This year’s edition covered 259.2 km (161 miles), with roughly a fifth of the route unfolding over punishing cobbled sectors.
