Dutch bike owner Mathieu van der Poel has had his conviction for assaulting two teenage ladies in Australia overturned.
The 27-year-old rider pleaded responsible in September to 2 counts of frequent assault after a confrontation with the ladies, aged 13 and 14.
The incident befell at Van der Poel’s resort in Sydney the evening earlier than the World Championship highway race.
Van der Poel, who was additionally fined A$1,500 (£909), efficiently appealed towards the conviction and superb.
Judge Ian Bourke SC, talking after a listening to at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court, stated Van der Poel’s actions had been in “response to annoying and invasive conduct” by the ladies and deemed their actions to be a “important diploma of provocation”, Australian media reported.
Speaking to NCA NewsWire, Van der Poel’s lawyer Michael Bowe stated he was glad with the end result.
“He did not want a conviction; he is a devoted sportsman and bike owner,” Bowe stated. “It’s actually necessary these issues have been dismissed.”
Van der Poel, who rides for Alpecin-Deceuninck, alleged the ladies “constantly” knocked on his resort room door on the night of 24 September.
“After just a few instances I used to be carried out with it,” he advised Belgian web site Sporza on the time. “I did not ask so properly to cease. Then the police have been referred to as and I used to be taken.”
A Tour de France and Giro d’Italia stage winner, two-time Tour of Flanders champion and Amstel Gold winner, Van der Poel was among the many favourites to win the World Championship race in Wollongong, however dropped out solely 30km into the 270km route.
The race was won by Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel.
by 
