Mathieu van der Poel has been acquitted on appeal of the assault of two teenage girls just before the World Championships on the road in Australia. That reports his lawyer Michael Bowe on ABC News.
“It’s a great outcome. No one wants to carry a conviction with them for the rest of their life, especially if you’re a kind person by nature,” the lawyer said.
Girls were annoying
Van der Poel was arrested in his hotel on the evening before the road race in September. He was taken to the police station because he allegedly assaulted two rowdy girls in the hotel corridor.
The 27-year-old rider was sentenced by an Australian court to a fine of 1,500 Australian dollars, which is about 1,000 euros. Van der Poel did start the road race the next morning, but he gave up after 30 kilometers.
“The allegations against Mathieu were unjustified and the judge has recognized that,” said Bowe. According to the judge, the girls had been annoying and intrusive, even though Van der Poel should not have let himself go like that.
Chance to become world champion
“The incident has had a major impact on his career,” said lawyer Bowe. “Getting out of the race was a great loss. It was the chance for him to become world champion and it was taken away from him. He felt he had let his country down. Moreover, he has expressed sincere remorse for his behavior .”
Van der Poel himself was not present at the appeal hearing. He is currently on a training internship in Spain. On Sunday he will start in the cyclocross race for the World Cup in Val di Sole, Italy.
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Watch the video of the incident here:
