In addition to sporting drama, Paris-Roubaix also offered unsportsmanlike incidents that do not align with the rules of fair play.
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Deceuninck) essentially secured his third consecutive victory with 38 km to go, when reigning world champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates – XRG), who was with him in the breakaway, made a miscalculation on a cobblestone section and crashed.
Van der Poel gained a safe lead, but then malicious spectators intervened. First, someone threw a drink bottle from the Visma-Lease A Bike team, where Wout van Aert rides, at van der Poel's face with 33 km to go. The Dutch ace was furious and called for the fan who behaved despicably to be identified and punished.
"We can't just let this go unnoticed. It was a full water bottle and it hurt a lot. If it had hit my nose, it would have broken. I was riding at 50 km/h and it felt like a stone hit my face. I hope the police can identify the spectator and take them to court. It was a planned murder attempt. If the UCI doesn't deal with it, then we, along with the team, will," promised van der Poel.
However, this was not the only unpleasant incident involving van der Poel – about 17 km from the finish, a spectator threw liquid at him.
Madis Mihkels (EF Education - EasyPost), the only Estonian participating, finished in 14th place, but he said he was capable of surpassing last year's 10th place. A flat tire about 95 km before the finish ruined his chances for a better result.
Whoever threw this bidon at Mathieu van der Poel, I hope you get identified and spend some time behind bars tonight. 🙏 #ParisRoubaixpic.twitter.com/Hqns9kP4xz
— Benji Naesen (@BenjiNaesen)April 13, 2025
💥 🇸🇮@TamauPogi crashed!
— Paris-Roubaix (@parisroubaix)April 13, 2025
💥 Crash of 🇸🇮@TamauPogi ! #ParisRoubaix 😈 pic.twitter.com/ng73a5YWZ8
🛠🇳🇱@mathieuvdpoel suffers a puncture in the Carrefour de l'Arbre sector!
— Paris-Roubaix (@parisroubaix)April 13, 2025
🛠 Puncture for 🇳🇱@mathieuvdpoel in the Carrefour de l'Arbre sector! #ParisRoubaix 😈 pic.twitter.com/sJ7hShCdcV
👑👑👑 🇳🇱@mathieuvdpoel conquers Roubaix for the third year in a row!
— Paris-Roubaix (@parisroubaix)April 13, 2025
⏪ Relive the last kilometer of #ParisRoubaix 2025 😈
👑👑👑 Third consecutive victory for 🇳🇱@mathieuvdpoel who makes history in #ParisRoubaix 😈
⏪ Relive the last kilometer pic.twitter.com/XdInEAUlCW
🗣️ 🇳🇱@mathieuvdpoel: "It means a lot! It’s such a hard race and I was really suffering. It’s too bad @TamauPogi made this mistake in the corner."
— Paris-Roubaix (@parisroubaix)April 13, 2025
🎙️🇬🇧 Tune in to the interview with the winner of #ParisRoubaix 2025 ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/GafET7itue
🏆😈 #ParisRoubaix 2025 🪨💐
— Paris-Roubaix (@parisroubaix)April 13, 2025
🥇🇳🇱@mathieuvdpoel
🥈🇸🇮@TamauPogi
🥉🇩🇰@Mads__Pedersen
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/sBG9MseRba
😈 No #ParisRoubaix experience is complete without a stop in the legendary showers. @TamauPogi knows 🚿
— Paris-Roubaix (@parisroubaix)April 13, 2025
😈 Tadej Pogacar knows, the Paris-Roubaix experience isn't complete without a stop in the legendary showers 🚿 pic.twitter.com/WNa9fr8Lnb
At least we got some good company in the showers… 🌈
— Unibet Tietema Rockets (@rockets_cycling)April 13, 2025
🇫🇷 #ParisRoubaix https://t.co/1mhXnydabC pic.twitter.com/l171FSnm24
