Mathieu van der Poel was arrested before the elite men's road race at the World Championships in Wollongong following an incident at his team hotel. The Dutch rider did not return to his room until about 4am and while he started the race on Sunday morning he abandoned less than an hour into the event.
It appears children were repeatedly knocking on his hotel door on Saturday night and then running off. The Dutchman eventually went to investigate the continued disturbances as he tried to rest. At that point it is alleged he was involved in an altercation with two young girls, though he has denied wrongdoing.
Hotel management were informed of the incident and New South Wales police were called. Officers arrived at the hotel and Van der Poel was arrested and taken to the local police station. He was charged with the common assault of two children before being granted bail. His passport was confiscated and he must appear before court on Tuesday.
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“About 10.40pm a man was at a hotel on The Grand Parade, Brighton-Le-Sands, when he was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with two teenage girls – aged 13 and 14,” New South Wales police said of the incident on Saturday night.
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“It’s further alleged the man then pushed both teenagers, with one falling to the ground and the other being pushed into a wall causing a minor graze to her elbow. Hotel management was notified of the incident and then called police. Officers from St George Police Area Command attended and arrested a 27-year-old man shortly after.
“He was taken to Kogarah Police Station and charged with two counts of common assault. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday 27 September 2022.”
"Van der Poel confirmed to Belgian news outlet Sporza that an incident had taken place. “There was a small dispute. It was about noisy neighbors and they are quite strict here," he said. "I wasn't back in my room until 4 o'clock. That's certainly not ideal. It's a disaster, but I can't change anything anymore. I'm trying to make the best of it.
"I went to bed early and many children in the hallway of my room found it necessary to knock on the door continuously. After a few times I was done with it. I didn't ask so nicely to stop. Then the police were called and I was taken."
