Paris-Roubaix spectator's lawyer insists "never any intention to harm" to Mathieu van der Poel and confirms she has contacted riders' union

After the CPA riders’ union promised to take “action” against a spectator who threw a cap at Mathieu van der Poel’s bike as he powered to victory at Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, the spectator in question – a VIP guest at the race – and her lawyers have now spoken to the Belgian media, confirming that they have contacted the riders’ union and that there was “never any intention to harm” or sabotage the world champion.

Television cameras captured the moment a roadside spectator threw the cap at Van der Poel's Canyon on the Mérignies à Avelin sector with 42km to go, the Dutch rider thundering over the cobbles at 48km/h (29.8mph) when a white cap was seen thrown towards the eventual race winner, risking causing a crash or mechanical had it got trapped in his wheels or drivetrain.

Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS afterwards, Van der Poel said he had felt like "something white" had hit him. "Apparently not everyone likes me riding in the lead. But I don't care," he added.

😡 Le très mauvais geste d'une spectatrice qui lance une casquette dans les rayons de Mathieu van der Poel en pleine course ! Fort heureusement, le champion du monde n'a pas chuté #ParisRoubaix #LesRP pic.twitter.com/PX0z7QYyHX

— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) April 7, 2024

Once footage was shared on social media, the CPA riders' union president, Adam Hansen, confirmed: "Yes, we take action against them". He explained that the French department of the organisation would handle the case, the same body that successfully took the Tour de France spectator who caused the 'Allez Opi-Omi' crash to court, winning a symbolic €1 compensation.

Bizarrely, as we noted earlier this week, the lack of identification of the woman involved in the Paris-Roubaix incident led some online to make comparisons between Sunday's spectator and the 'Allez Opi-Omi' lady, questioning if their vague likeness in blurry TV pictures should be considered.

However, Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad soon reported that she was instead a corporate guest at a VIP tent where various companies had invited clients.

"We have been organising that day for 16 years," Olivier Orlans of Eventor said, the company that organised the corporate hospitality. "When we saw the images, we did not think the woman was part of our party. She didn't have a badge to get in and out of our tent. But we did investigate and asked all our customers if they knew the lady in question."

It was discovered she was a guest of a company and is said to be a fan of Van der Poel, a strange revelation but one the Belgian newspaper suggests may indicate that her action was not malicious, and perhaps just ill-advised. The company whose guest the woman was also said she would "turn herself in".

"If it was deliberate, then as an organisation we obviously find that scandalous, but everyone has the benefit of the doubt. It is now up to the woman in question to tell her story," Orlans concluded.

That story is now starting to be told, at least partially, after the woman contacted Het Nieuwsblad yesterday to confirm her identity and claim that she is now “caught up in a storm” thanks to an “unfortunate” manoeuvre, fuelled by an afternoon’s worth of aperitifs.

According to the Belgian newspaper, the spectator – from Flanders and a regular Paris-Roubaix roadside fan – confirmed on the phone that she is the woman captured in the images throwing the white cap, an action she denies was taken “consciously”.

“If there are any complaints, I will take responsibility. I don't want to waste more words on this in the media,” she said from a purportedly planned holiday abroad, with friends emphasising that this week’s trip was planned and not a reaction to the “commotion or fuss” surrounding her at home.

Meanwhile, the woman’s lawyer says they have already contacted the French professional cyclists’ union (UNCP).

“We have already contacted them,” the lawyer said. “That happened this week. We have taken the step. In that message, my client identified herself and clarified that she is the woman seen in the images.

“She has also indicated that she is open to a conversation and that she would like to provide the union with an explanation about what happened there. She likes to explain everything. We are now waiting for a response.”

The lawyer, who also added that his client is a Van der Poel fan, continued: “It was clearly never my client's intention to harm the rider in question, let alone that she wanted to bring him down. No sane person would do something like that, right?”

When asked why the cap ended up on the cobbles, he said: ““My client would like to keep that explanation for the discussion with the riders' association. She can explain this to them in person. But she doesn't want to have that conversation in the media.”

(Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

World champion Van der Poel has long been the target of roadside antagonism, with reports of spectators booing and throwing beer at him throughout this classics season. In December, as the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider dominated his way to a seventh straight cyclocross victory, he was seen spitting at spectators at the UCI World Cup in Hulst. The 29-year-old was fined by the UCI over his conduct but said he is "a bit fed up with being booed every week" and appeared to retweet a social media post suggesting the fans had even thrown beer or urine at him during the race.

The latest CPA action follows on from similar steps following last weekend's Tour of Flanders, cases filed against spectators who allegedly threw beer at Van der Poel. The Flemish police said that while the incidents had not been seen by officers, TV footage provided an opportunity to identify suspects.

"The charges will be severe: assault and battery. We're determined to push this as far as we can, sending a clear message that such behaviour is totally unacceptable," the force told Het Laatste Nieuws.

> Josh Tarling disqualified from Paris-Roubaix for taking tow from team car

The Roubaix incident was discussed by Eurosport's punditry team following the race, Adam Blythe warning that it "could have ended his season".

Presenter Orla Chennaoui added that taking action is "quite frankly the only way" as "fans, halfwits as you call them, have to realise there are cameras by the side of the road and if you do something like that, chances are you will be identified and prosecutions are entirely possible".

"It seems like a really good step," Dan Lloyd agreed. "It's such a small minority that could potentially spoil things for the rest. I don't think they are going to barrier the entire length of the 57 kilometres of cobbles each year but they might do something to make fans stand further back so that they can't impede the riders.

"That would just spoil it for everyone because one of the great parts of this sport is that you can get so up close and personal."