Flanders Classics wants punishment for spectators who threw beer at Mathieu van der Poel

On his way to his third victory in the Tour of Flanders, Mathieu van der Poel not only had to brave rain, wind, slopes and cobblestones, but also received beer, spit and boos from some spectators. Organizer Flanders Classics will not leave it at that and would like to see the perpetrators punished.

Van der Poel had to endure a lot, especially on the Oude Kwaremont. There were boos and some spectators threw beer at the world champion. “There were some downpours, yes,” he said afterwards – smiling Sporza. “I was actually so focused on my effort that it didn’t really bother me.”

“If the beer throwers are identified, we will file civil proceedings,” says CEO Tomas Van den Spiegel in conversation with The last news. In other words: Flanders Classics will (if the beer throwers are identified) apply to the court for compensation during criminal proceedings. “We also did that in the Omloop. Beer was thrown at Marianne Vos on the Muur van Geraardsbergen. The beer throwers there were identified and we filed civil proceedings there.”

Police report
Joost Duhamel, zone chief of the Flemish Ardennes police, is willing to cooperate with Flanders Classics. “We have not determined this ourselves, but it can be seen on images of the match. Based on this, an official report is drawn up and the suspects can be identified.”

It is not the first time that Van der Poel has had to deal with unsportsmanlike ‘fans’ on the sidelines. In the World Cup cross in Hulst at the end of December he even had urine splashed on him, after which he decided to spit back at the perpetrator.