“It Was Enough, Also for Me” – Mathieu Van Der Poel’s Hulst Victory Marred by Spitting at His Booers as the Cyclist Reveals the Backstory Behind the Outburst

When Mathieu Van Der Poel clinched his seventh victory of the season, the celebrations were supposed to be big. This was because Poel was riding in his homeland in Hulst. Unfortunately, things did not quite go as per expectations as the World Champion got himself caught in a major trouble with the fans. Throughout the entirety of the race, the fans were seen expressing displeasure with the cyclist. Constant booing became the norm of the day. 

Unable to keep his cool in the final lap, Poel snapped and spat on a particular group of fans. This incident scarred his celebrations significantly as the 28-year-old found himself in the middle of a huge controversy. So why did Poel lose his temper at the race other than what was just visible to everyone? Here is what the cyclist himself had to say about the incident.

Mathieu Van Der Poel reflects on his spitting incident 

The Dutch cyclist expressed significant disdain at being asked about the incident. He stated that the crowd had been relentless in booing him throughout the race and even during the practice session. Poel further informed he was booed while racing in the previous World Cup round as well, without stating any reasons behind it. Speaking about the audience, the 28-year-old summed up his sentiment saying, “They were just a bunch of booers. I’m done with that…It was continuous, during the recon already. It’s better to stay at home.” 

The renowned cyclist was furious and refused to put forth a statement regarding what exactly was being chanted by the audience. He commented, “It’s better to ask them yourself. I’m not going to repeat that. These were not things that belong in sport. Booing is not appropriate for anyone,” he said. “After a while it was enough, also for me.”

The Dutchman seemed overly irritated as he claimed that such behavior is unacceptable in the realm of sports and none of the athletes deserves to be booed. Poel accepted his actions of spitting while commenting that the behavior of the crowd got on his nerves. However, the 28-year-old will be facing major disciplinary proceedings ahead. 

What lies in the future for Van Der Poel? 

Following the spitting fiasco, Van Der Poel is in line to receive a hefty fine. Although there has been no confirmed news of Poel being charged yet, the possibility of incurring disciplinary penalties is likely. The 28-year-old is expected to be charged under the 5.6.001 section of the UCI’s Cyclocross regulations. 

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Under the regulation, item 17 forbids an athlete from “insults, threats, inappropriate behaviour.” The estimated fines might range anywhere between 50 to 200 CHF. What are your opinions about the story? Do let us know in the comments below. 

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