Mathieu van der Poel pleaded guilty to assaulting two teenage girls on the eve of the World Championship road race and the Dutch cyclist was convicted and fined a total of A$1,500 ($974.85), his lawyer said on Monday ( September 26th).
The 27-year-old had been charged with double assault after a confrontation with the girls, aged 13 and 14, which he claimed repeatedly knocked on his door and ran away.
New South Wales Police said one teenager fell to the ground while the other had a small abrasion on her elbow after being bumped into a wall.
The police were called when management was notified and the girls’ father filed a complaint.
“We went through the relevant events, he was arrested by the police, questioned by the police and said certain things to the police,” Michael Bowe, Van der Poel’s lawyer, told Reuters.
“Mathieu agreed with some of these allegations. During the discussion it was agreed that he should plead guilty. If you plead guilty in Australia, you can walk away without a conviction…
Bowe confirmed that he would appeal the two counts of assault. Van der Poel was also allowed to leave the country after his passport was returned to him.
The Dutch Cycling Federation said she and Van der Poel would not comment on the incident.
The Tour de France stage winner, who was considered one of the favorites to win Sunday’s win in the coastal town of Wollongong, New South Wales, then retired after just 30 of the 267 kilometers.
Belgian Remco Evenepoel won the world road race title with a solo breakaway on Sunday.