Latest news with #TheHelloftheNorth
The Guardian
15-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Fan hands himself in after bottle thrown at Van der Poel during Paris-Roubaix
French justice officials have launched an investigation after Mathieu van der Poel had a plastic bottle hurled at his face during his triumphant ride to a third consecutive Paris-Roubaix victory on Sunday. 'An investigation was opened into the charge of violence with a weapon in order to identify and arrest the perpetrator,' said the Lille prosecutor Carole Etienne on X. The Dutch Alpecin-Deceuninck rider was struck while powering solo over a cobbled section with 33km remaining in the prestigious one-day classic, often called 'The Hell of the North'. 'It's not normal. It was a full bottle, it's maybe half a kilogram and I rode 50kph, it was like a stone hitting my face,' the visibly angered Van der Poel told reporters in the aftermath of the race. 'This is just not acceptable. If they spit or throw beer, it's also unacceptable but that's a different story. This is really something we have to take legal action against.' Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reported on Monday that the spectator who launched the projectile has since surrendered to Flemish police. And public prosecutor Filiep Jodts told BBC Sport: 'We can confirm that the man presented himself to the police. An official report was drawn up, in which his statement was recorded. The Public Prosecution Service will decide in the coming days what action should be taken.' Cycling's governing body, the UCI, expressed its support for the former world champion. '[We] unanimously condemn, in the strongest terms, the unacceptable behaviour of a spectator during the 122nd edition of Paris-Roubaix from the side of the road on 13 April,' it said in a statement. 'Such behaviour cannot be tolerated in the context of a cycling event. 'The UCI and representatives of cycling's families express their support for the rider and will explore, in conjunction with the competent authorities, all the legal channels at their disposal so that such behaviour is duly and severely punished, as has already been the case in the past. They will take the same action in the future against any act that threatens the physical integrity of riders.' Alpecin-Deceuninck said late on Monday that they were seeking sanctions over the bottle throwing, describing it as 'a dangerous and unacceptable incident'. 'We will be filing an official complaint against the perpetrator to formally denounce this behaviour,' a team statement read. 'This issue goes beyond that single act. Too often, we observe that such misconduct is either caused by or accompanied by excessive alcohol consumption. It jeopardises the safety of our riders, overshadows the enjoyment and reputation of genuine cycling enthusiasts, and diverts attention from the sporting achievements.'
Reuters
14-04-2025
- Reuters
French officials probe bottle attack on Van der Poel
PARIS, April 14 - French justice officials have launched an investigation after cycling champion Mathieu van der Poel had a plastic bottle hurled at his face during his triumphant ride to a third consecutive Paris-Roubaix victory on Sunday. "An investigation was opened into the charge of violence with a weapon in order to identify and arrest the perpetrator," Lille prosecutor Carole Etienne said on X. The Dutch rider was struck while powering solo over a cobbled section with 33 kilometers remaining in the prestigious one-day classic, often called "The Hell of the North". "It's not normal. It was a full bottle, it's maybe half a kilogram and I rode 50kph, it was like a stone hitting my face," the visibly angered Van der Poel told reporters on Sunday. "This is just not acceptable. If they spit or throw beer, it's also unacceptable but that's a different story. This is really something we have to take legal action against." Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reported on Monday that the spectator who launched the projectile has since surrendered to Flemish police.
NBC Sports
13-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Van der Poel wins Paris-Roubaix again with Pogačar in second place after late crash
ROUBAIX, France — Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel benefited from Tadej Pogačar's late crash on Sunday to win the Paris-Roubaix race for the third straight year. Pogačar's debut appearance at the one-day classic saw him seeking to become the first Tour de France champion to win it since Bernard Hinault in 1981. The 259.2-kilometer (161-mile) race is called 'The Hell of the North' because of its numerous cobblestone sections and reputation for crashes. Pogačar found that out with 38 kilometers to go. The 26-year-old Slovenian was neck-and-neck with Van der Poel when he misjudged a turn on a cobblestone section and went into the crash barriers. Although he was unhurt, his chain came off and he had to change bikes, losing crucial time. Then, when he picked up a puncture with 20 kilometers to go, his victory chances were gone. The grueling race is one of the five 'monuments' in one-day cycling along with Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the Tour of Lombardy, Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders. Van der Poel, who raised his bike in the air in celebration, and Pogačar have won eight monuments each. 'It means a lot. It's such a hard race, I was suffering. I just had to go for it,' Van der Poel said. 'I'm just happy I found my good legs again. We know what an incredible champion Tadej is.' Although Van der Poel had a puncture with 16 kilometers left, he changed bikes without losing much time and entered the Roubaix velodrome all alone. He bowed his head and then raised three fingers when he crossed the finish line in 5 hours, 31 minutes, 27 seconds. Pogačar got a loud ovation and waved to the crowd when he finished second, 1 minute, 18 seconds behind. Danish rider Mads Pedersen took third place after a three-way sprint to the line, finishing 2:11 behind Van der Poel. The 30-year-old Van der Poel added another prestigious win to his glittering career and got the better of Pogačar again after beating him last month at the prestigious Milan-San Remo, which Pogačar has never won. On Saturday, Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt overcame sickness and a crash to win the Paris-Roubaix women's race for the first time after a well-timed solo breakaway. The 148.5-kilometer women's race featured 29.2 km of cobbles. Battle of the stars Sunday's race had been billed as a showdown between two of the greatest cyclists of the modern era: the versatile and tactically shrewd Pogačar versus the super-fast and powerful Van der Poel. Van der Poel outsmarted him at San-Remo, but Pogačar bounced back with a victory last Sunday with a trademark solo attack at Flanders. When Pogačar launched an attack with 71 kilometers left, Van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen were soon on his wheel. Philipsen was then dropped as the pace increased, but Pogačar's inexperience on the cobbles showed when he entered a turn too fast and ultimately lost the race. 'The speed was super-high and he missed the turn a bit,' Van der Poel said. 'It was the two of us going into the Velodrome if he didn't make the mistake. I think it would have been very difficult to drop him.' Pogačar has won three Tour de France titles and one Giro d'Italia and is notoriously hard to beat. Last month, he won the Strade Bianche race in Italy for the third time despite falling. But this time he could not overcome his setback.
Associated Press
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Van der Poel wins Paris-Roubaix again with Pogačar in second place after late crash
ROUBAIX, France (AP) — Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel benefited from Tadej Pogačar's late crash on Sunday to win the Paris-Roubaix race for the third straight year. Pogačar's debut appearance at the one-day classic saw him seeking to become the first Tour de France champion to win it since Bernard Hinault in 1981. The 259.2-kilometer (161-mile) race is called 'The Hell of the North' because of its numerous cobblestone sections and reputation for crashes. Pogačar found that out with 38 kilometers to go. The 26-year-old Slovenian was neck-and-neck with Van der Poel when he misjudged a turn on a cobblestone section and went into the crash barriers. Although he was unhurt, his chain came off and he had to change bikes, losing crucial time. Then, when he picked up a puncture with 20 kilometers to go, his victory chances were gone. The grueling race is one of the five 'monuments' in one-day cycling along with Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the Tour of Lombardy, Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders. Van der Poel, who raised his bike in the air in celebration, and Pogačar have won eight monuments each. 'It means a lot. It's such a hard race, I was suffering. I just had to go for it,' Van der Poel said. 'I'm just happy I found my good legs again. We know what an incredible champion Tadej is.' Although Van der Poel had a puncture with 16 kilometers left, he changed bikes without losing much time and entered the Roubaix velodrome all alone. He bowed his head and then raised three fingers when he crossed the finish line in 5 hours, 31 minutes, 27 seconds. Pogačar got a loud ovation and waved to the crowd when he finished second, 1 minute, 18 seconds behind. Danish rider Mads Pedersen took third place after a three-way sprint to the line, finishing 2:11 behind Van der Poel. The 30-year-old Van der Poel added another prestigious win to his glittering career and got the better of Pogačar again after beating him last month at the prestigious Milan-San Remo, which Pogačar has never won. On Saturday, Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt overcame sickness and a crash to win the Paris-Roubaix women's race for the first time after a well-timed solo breakaway. The 148.5-kilometer women's race featured 29.2 km of cobbles. Battle of the stars Sunday's race had been billed as a showdown between two of the greatest cyclists of the modern era: the versatile and tactically shrewd Pogačar versus the super-fast and powerful Van der Poel. Van der Poel outsmarted him at San-Remo, but Pogačar bounced back with a victory last Sunday with a trademark solo attack at Flanders. When Pogačar launched an attack with 71 kilometers left, Van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen were soon on his wheel. Philipsen was then dropped as the pace increased, but Pogačar's inexperience on the cobbles showed when he entered a turn too fast and ultimately lost the race. 'The speed was super-high and he missed the turn a bit,' Van der Poel said. 'It was the two of us going into the Velodrome if he didn't make the mistake. I think it would have been very difficult to drop him.' Pogačar has won three Tour de France titles and one Giro d'Italia and is notoriously hard to beat. Last month, he won the Strade Bianche race in Italy for the third time despite falling. But this time he could not overcome his setback. ___ AP cycling:
