Cycling-Van der Poel pulls out of worlds road race after Sydney arrest

FILE PHOTO: Cycling - Giro d'Italia - Stage 9 - Isernia to Blockhaus, Italy - May 15, 2022 Alpecin-Fenix's Mathieu Van Der Poel reacts after Stage 9 REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel was arrested in Sydney and charged with assault after an altercation with two teenagers on the eve of the world championship road race on Saturday night.

The Tour de France stage winner, who was one of the favourites to win Sunday's race in the coastal New South Wales city of Wollongong, subsequently dropped out after just 30 of the 267 kilometres.