UCI, Alpecin-Deceuninck to pursue bidon thrower 'so that such behaviour is severely punished'

Alpecin-Deceuninck's Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel cycles in a breakaway leading the race at the Carrefour de l'Arbre, a cobblestone road, during the 122nd edition of the Paris-Roubaix one-day classic cycling race, 259,2 km between Compiegne and Roubaix, northern France on April 13, 2025. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP) (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD/AFP via Getty Images) .

Following an incident during the 2025 Paris-Roubaix in which Mathieu van der Poel was struck in the face by a full bidon thrown by a roadside spectator, the UCI and Van der Poel's Alpecin-Deceuninck team have issued statements saying they will pursue punishment for the man.

Van der Poel was riding solo en route to victory over sector 8, Templeuve - Moulin-de-Vertain, with 33km to go when the spectator tossed a Visma-Lease a Bike bidon into his path, striking him with a glancing blow in the face.