The fan who almost brought Mathieu van der Poel down during yesterday’s\u00a0X2O Trofee Loenhout-Azencross\u00a0will not face prosecution and has apologised, saying he feels “so guilty” about the incident which “wasn’t my intention at all”.<\/p>\n
The spectator, who was led away and questioned by police but\u00a0released without charge, told Belgian broadcaster Sporza <\/a>that he wishes to apologise directly to the Dutch rider, who overcame the scare to comfortably win his 17th consecutive cyclocross race<\/a>, a remarkable run that,\u00a0extended further, has only seen him beaten once in the discipline in almost three years.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite his visible frustration in the moment, Van der Poel told the TV cameras after his win that he did not feel like the fan’s contact was intentional and that “people are often so enthusiastic about cheering that they forget there are still riders coming”.<\/p>\n While the event’s\u00a0organisers initially expressed a desire to see action taken against the spectator, footage later emerged from the barriers, the video more clearly showing that the fan had been cheering the lead riders as they passed when he made contact with Van der Poel’s handlebar.<\/p>\n A new view of the fan that appeared to touch Mathieu van der Poel in the early stages of X2O Trofee Azencross Loenhout \ud83c\udfa5 pic.twitter.com\/xv8ZrHMSjb<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) December 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n “I really have nothing against Mathieu van der Poel,” the spectator, who has not been named, told Sporza. “I feel so guilty \u2013 it wasn’t my intention at all.\u00a0I love cyclocross very much, so this is the last thing I wanted to happen. I would like to apologise to Mathieu once again.”<\/p>\n Christophe Impens, the managing director of the event’s organiser Golazo, initially called the incident “annoying” but wanted to look at the bigger picture when commenting later once the video had been shared and the man released by police.<\/p>\n Not cool! \u274c<\/p>\n Mathieu van der Poel lead the X2O Trofee in Loenhout despite this fan making contact! pic.twitter.com\/8E27XvLt7H<\/a><\/p>\n