The ‘vape attack’ on Mathieu van der Poel in Hofstade has once again raised questions about inappropriate behavior along the cross course. The incident caused a stir, not only within the peloton, but also outside it. Professor of sports sociology Jeroen Scheerder analyzes the incident and sees a clear break with what has already happened in the past, writes Het Nieuwsblad.
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No reason, no provocation
According to Scheerder, it is important to establish that Van der Poel himself did not give any reason. “I didn’t see Van der Poel make any gesture towards Van Aert or Nys on Monday, let alone laugh at them or anything,” he says.
In some sports, provocation is part of the game, but according to the professor, that was not at all the case here. “His behavior was as you would expect from a top player.”
Scheerder thus emphasizes that the world champion acted correctly and professionally. According to him, that makes the incident all the more disturbing. It was not a reaction to provocative behavior, but an action that was completely separate from the race itself.
Another form of aggression
What sets Hofstade apart from previous incidents, according to Scheerder, is the way it happened. “It did not happen incognito in Hofstade, which is a big difference from previous incidents.” The perpetrator acted visibly and purposefully, and there was even someone ready to take images.
Although Van der Poel did not experience any disadvantages in terms of sport, Scheerder sees this as a dangerous evolution. “You cannot rule out that things will really go wrong at some point,” he warns. The fact that such actions are becoming increasingly explicit worries him.
Scheerder mainly fears what this means in the longer term. “I don’t know where it’s going to end, but it’s definitely not going in the right direction.” The professor does not argue for panic, but for alertness. According to him, it is crucial that such incidents do not become normalized, precisely because the rider himself did not provoke anything.
