“Scumbags” – Experts condemn disgraceful attack from fan on Mathieu van der Poel during Paris-Roubaix hat-trick
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel etched his name even deeper into
cycling folklore today, claiming a historic third consecutive Paris-Roubaix
title with a dominant display that cemented his status as arguably the finest
cobbled specialist the sport has ever seen.
The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider powered to victory after a
dramatic day in northern France, leaving behind a stricken Tadej Pogacar, who
crashed during his much-anticipated debut at the Hell of the North.
However, the headlines weren’t all about Van der Poel’s
brilliance. Shockingly, the Dutchman became the target of a spectator's
reckless act when a bottle was thrown at him while he was riding solo at the
front. The bottle narrowly missed causing serious harm, bouncing away without
disrupting his rhythm too much.
“Scumbags,” raged Adam Blythe on TNT Sports, clearly
appalled by the senseless act.
"Who on earth comes to a bike race to do that? What are
you playing at?" added a visibly stunned Rob Hatch during TNT Sports’ live
commentary.
Fortunately, Van der Poel continued unfazed, surging ahead
to cross the line solo and secure his place in the history books with a third
straight win at Roubaix, a feat matched by two other greats.
"Just scumbags," continued Blythe. "I can't
believe someone is doing this. It's just beyond belief. Good news is it didn’t
affect him – but yeah, disgusting. Just do one. Don’t bother coming out."
🏆🏆🏆 HAT TRICK, HATS OFF @mathieuvdpoel!
— Paris-Roubaix (@parisroubaix) April 13, 2025
🏆🏆🏆 Le triplé pour @mathieuvdpoel, chapeau !#ParisRoubaix pic.twitter.com/3IX9ii1V9G
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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