"If they drink a beer, people quickly think that everything is allowed" - Sven Nys has sympathy for Mathieu van der Poel but urges the world champion to use his head in future situations
Cyclocross
Tired of the constant stream of booing, verbal abuse and even allegedly urine and beer being thrown on him, Mathieu van der Poel lashed out on Saturday afternoon at the UCI World Cup in Hulst, spitting at spectators.
Cyclocross legend Sven Nys was watching closely and couldn't believe what he was seeing. "I understand Mathieu very well. But you'll look like a loser if you react like that. And I think he will realize that by now," said the Baloise - Trek Lions boss to NOS.
Van der Poel was fined 250 Swiss Francs by the UCI for his action. "This isn't new, is it. I've never known it any other way, although I don't understand why there are supporters who want to stand along the course like this," Nys continues. "Sometimes the frustration becomes too great and then the bucket overflows. But it's better not to respond. Because who wins now? That bullying supporter."
"In cyclo-cross there is always a rivalry between Belgium and the Netherlands. And in the end, alcohol always plays a major role: if they drink a beer, people quickly think that everything is allowed," Nys concludes. "If someone is very dominant and stands out as much as Mathieu, then there are always people who would like to see him take the piss. Call it jealousy or envy, I don't know."
The moment Mathieu van der Poel 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙩 at the Hulst crowd 😱#CXWorldCup pic.twitter.com/yK5MI1avAf
— Eurosport (@eurosport) December 30, 2023
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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