Terrible nouvelle: Mathieu van der Poel arrêté en raison de taxes foncières impayées» “Mathieu van der Poel Arrested Due to Unpaid House Taxes”…

Terrible nouvelle: Mathieu van der Poel arrêté en raison de taxes foncières impayées» “Mathieu van der Poel Arrested Due to Unpaid House Taxes”…

 

In a shocking development that has stunned the cycling world, Dutch superstar Mathieu van der Poel was reportedly arrested early Tuesday morning in connection with a series of unpaid property taxes tied to his residence in Kapellen, Belgium.

Authorities confirmed that van der Poel, 30, was taken into custody after multiple warnings and formal notices regarding tax delinquency went unanswered for more than 18 months. According to official sources, the cyclist owes over €85,000 in back taxes, interest, and associated penalties related to a luxury villa he purchased in 2021.

Local police in Kapellen executed the arrest warrant just after 6 a.m. Tuesday. Neighbors described the scene as “unusual but calm,” with several officers arriving in unmarked vehicles and quietly escorting van der Poel from the premises.

“We made every attempt to resolve this matter through proper administrative channels,” said a spokesperson for the Belgian Tax Authority. “Unfortunately, after repeated noncompliance and failure to respond to court summons, legal action became unavoidable.”

Van der Poel’s team, Alpecin-Deceuninck, issued a brief statement hours after the arrest, expressing shock and promising full cooperation with the authorities.

“We are aware of the situation involving Mathieu van der Poel and are currently gathering all relevant information. We trust in due process and will support Mathieu as needed while also respecting the law,” the team’s statement read.

The arrest comes at a critical time for the cycling phenom, who is in the midst of preparations for the upcoming Tour de France. The incident could jeopardize his participation, pending the legal proceedings. Analysts say even if charges are cleared quickly, the psychological and reputational damage may already be significant.

Fans and fellow athletes have taken to social media to express support for van der Poel, with many questioning how such a high-profile athlete could fall into such a predicament. “I hope this is just a misunderstanding,” tweeted rival cyclist Wout van Aert. “Mathieu is a great champion and deserves the benefit of the doubt.”

Financial experts speculate that van der Poel may have delegated tax affairs to advisors and simply lost track of the situation amid a busy racing schedule. However, Belgian legal experts warn that tax evasion charges, even when unintentional, are taken very seriously.

“If it can be proven that the failure to pay taxes was deliberate or negligent, the penalties can include steep fines and potential jail time,” said Antwerp-based tax attorney Kris De Vos. “However, in cases where there’s genuine oversight, courts may offer more leniency.”

As of this writing, van der Poel remains in custody pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for later this week. His legal team has not issued a formal statement.

More details are expected to emerge in the coming days as both legal and sporting communities brace for the fallout from this surprising development.