Belgian Cycling apologises to Van der Poel for fans' behaviour at Worlds

Belgian Cycling has apologised to Mathieu van der Poel for the behaviour of some Belgian supporters at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Bogense, Denmark on Sunday.

Van der Poel soloed to victory to deny Belgium’s Wout van Aert a fourth successive world title and cap off a dominant cyclo-cross campaign. It was the Dutchman's second elite men's World Championship victory following his 2015 triumph.

After the race, however, his father Adrie van der Poel complained that Belgian supporters had doused his son in beer during the event. An image circulated on social media after the race depicted a spectator showing his middle finger to Mathieu van der Poel as he rode past.

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In a statement issued on Monday evening, the Belgian cycling federation decried the behaviour of some spectators and congratulated Van der Poel on his victory.

"Belgian Cycling strongly supports the internationalisation of cyclo-cross. That is why it is regrettable that one had to witness that a certain number of spectators – fortunately an absolute minority – are not of the same view. Nobody, including the Belgian delegation, benefits from unsporting and insulting behaviour," read the statement.

"The fact that our riders had to let the title go to Mathieu van der Poel on Sunday afternoon, after a fair sporting battle, is part of the laws of sport. For Belgian Cycling, the Dutchman deserved the title. We sincerely congratulate Mathieu van der Poel, not only for the way in which he won his second world title, but for all of his fine performances these past months."

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