Watch: Cyclist Mathieu van der Poel shows his racing class, wins in Hofstade despite vape smoking incident by a spectator near finish
Mathieu van der Poel won the X2O Badkamers Trofee race in Hofstade despite a spectator blowing vape smoke in his face near the finish line.Summary
Mathieu van der Poel demonstrated his resilience and skill by winning the X2O Badkamers Trofee race in Hofstade, Belgium, despite a disruptive incident involving a spectator. As he approached the finish line, a spectator blew vape smoke directly into his face, momentarily distracting him. Van der Poel quickly regained his focus and secured the victory, finishing 48 seconds ahead of Wout van Aert and Niels Vandeputte. He downplayed the incident, stating it didn't bother him and was preferable to being hit with beer, referencing previous instances of fan interference. Team managers and officials have expressed concern over increasing fan misconduct and are calling for stronger measures to ensure rider safety. This incident is part of a pattern of disruptive behavior towards Van der Poel, including being thrown with beer, urine, and objects during races.
(Source：Times of India)
