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Van der Poel demands action after being hit in face by projectile at Paris-Roubaix

Related Topics: Mathieu van der Poel

Mathieu van der Poel was struck in the face by a water bottle thrown from the roadside during his third consecutive win at Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, prompting the Dutch cyclist to call for action.

The 30-year-old is a huge star on the road cycling scene but is not universally popular and has had his share of run-ins with fans over the years.

"It was like getting hit by a stone. The bottle was nearly full and weighed half a kilo and when someone throws it like that it's not nothing," he said in his post-race press conference at the Roubaix velodrome.