Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel has seen his convictions for common assault against two teenage girls quashed on appeal.
The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to assaulting the 13 and 14-year-old girls in September following an incident at the UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong, Australia.
The two teenagers repeatedly knocked on Van der Poel's hotel door before running away on the eve of the elite men's road race, where the Dutchman completed the first 30km before dropping out.
One of the girls was said to have sustained a minor graze on her elbow after being pushed into a wall, while the other fell to the ground after being shoved by Van der Poel.
The four-time senior Cyclo-cross world champion was fined A$1,500 (£825) after his conviction, which has since been overturned, as reported by The Guardian.
Judge Ian Bourke SC stated that Van der Poel's response was in retaliation to "annoying and invasive conduct", and the teenage girls' actions were a "significant degree of provocation".
Van der Poel's lawyer Michael Bowe welcomed the decision, telling NCA NewsWire: "He [Van der Poel] didn't need a conviction, he's a dedicated sportsman and cyclist. It's really important these matters were dismissed."
Van der Poel won the first stage of the Giro d'Italia this year and has one Tour de France stage victory to his name from the 2021 edition.
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