Mathieu Van der Poel makes mea culpa: “I’m sorry.”

Van der Poel will also have to pay a fine of 1010 euros

Ending with a fine, and a ban on entering the country for the next three years, is Mathieu Van der Poel’s misadventure in Australia. On the night before the world race in Wollongong, the Dutch cyclist had become embroiled in an altercation with two teenage girls, who asuo say were disturbing the peace in the hotel corridors.

Australia, very quick in its timing, has already issued its sentence: Van der Poel, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to pay a fine of 1010 euros, as well as a ban from the Oceanic country for the next three years.

Back home, the Dutchman recounted his experience to the microphones of VTM. Admitting he was wrong but also making appropriate clarifications, “I admit I was wrong, but I didn’t want to hurt those girls,” he began. “I grabbed one of them by the arm, but not with the intention of hurting her. Those who know me know that I never hurt anyone. The rumors about me pushing them are false. There are two different versions of the story, only from Australia it was difficult to refute it. I am sorry and I was wrong. I shouldn’t have done it, but unfortunately it happened. I should have called the front desk or notified someone, but I thought I could solve it myself. It turned out to be the wrong choice. Now it’s up to me to put it behind me. I am already happy to be back home, where I can find some peace and quiet,” the cyclist concluded.