MOSCOW, Sep 26 Dutch cyclist Matthieu van der Pool pleaded guilty to attack on two underage teenagers during the World Championships in road cycling in Australia, according to the Guardian. Van der Pool was detained a few hours before the start of Sunday's race in Wollongong (Australia), in which he was considered a favorite. The New South Wales police claimed that the cyclist pushed two girls in the hallway. One fell, and the other hit the wall, receiving a minor abrasion on the elbow. According to him, they knocked on the door of his room several times on Saturday evening and ran away. After a night in the police station, van der Poel was supposed to lead the Netherlands team in Sunday's 266.9 km race, but he retired in the first 30 km. Van der Pool pleaded guilty on Monday. The judge fined the cyclist A$1,500. Since the trial ended and his bail conditions no longer applied, the Dutchman was able to get his passport and fly out of Australia. The cyclist's defense will appeal the decision. Van der Pool is 27 years old. He is a four-time world champion in cyclocross, the winner of the stages of the Tour de France, and the Giro d'Italia.
