Van Der Poel has taken a weight off himself after the events before the world road championship which led him to spend the night in the barracks with subsequent withdrawal to the world championship after a sleepless night.
After being found guilty of assault charges relating to two teenagers at the end of September (the evening before the world road championship), the convictions and related fine against Mattieu van der Poel were overturned on appeal.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The incident took place in a hotel where Van der Poel, 27, was staying before the world road cycling championships in Wollongong, Australia. The two girls reportedly knocked on Van der Poel's door and rushed back to their room several times starting at 22pm. According to court documents, “waited for victims to knock on his door and chased them to their hotel room, closely following them“. He then pushed one of the girls against a wall and yelled at her, before pushing the second girl against a wall with both hands.
Judge Ian Bourke SC said that while Van der Poel's actions would have been 'disturbing' for the young couple, they were a 'response to annoying and invasive behaviour' which amounted to a 'significant degree of provocation'” . Michael Bowe, Van Der Poel's lawyer
Van der Poel's defense attorney said: “He didn't need a conviction, he's a sportsman and a professional cyclist. It is really important that these matters have been closed".
With the convictions overturned, Van der Poel was sentenced to a 12-month conditional release order (CRO), which stipulates that he must not commit any crimes during that period and must appear before the court at any time if called upon during his term. cro.
