Mathieu van der Poel has had an appeal overturned related to common assault ©Getty Images

Dutch cyclist and Tour de France stage winner Mathieu van der Poel has won an appeal to have his assault conviction overturned, related to an incident in Australia in September.

The 27-year-old Alpecin–Deceuninck rider was fined and barred from the country after pleading guilty to common assault involving two teenage girls.

Aged 13 and 14, the two had been knocking the cyclist's door at the Novotel Hotel in the Sydney suburb of Brighton Le Sands several times before Van der Poel confronted them, having been accused of pushing one and grabbing the arm of the other.

One reportedly fell to the floor.

He was arrested hours before he was due to compete in the International Cycling Union (UCI) Road Race World Championships in Wollongong.

The Dutchman later withdrew from the race after starting on two hours of sleep.

He had pled guilty in Sutherland Local Court two days later, convicted of two counts of common assault and fined AUD 1,500 (£826/$1,015/€962).

An appeal heard in Sydney Downing Centre District Court today saw this overturned.

With the convictions dropped, he was sentenced to a 12-month conditional release order, meaning he is not to commit any offence while subject to the order and must appear before the court if summoned upon.

Mathieu van der Poel won a stage at the Tour de France in 2021 ©Getty Images
Mathieu van der Poel won a stage at the Tour de France in 2021 ©Getty Images

His lawyer Michael Bowe said he was satisfied with the decision, saying he should have never been convicted.

"It was a great outcome, really good," said Bowe according to Australian broadcaster ABC.

"No one wants to carry a conviction forward for the rest of your life when you're of very good character.

"In my view, the convictions shouldn't have been made, which was supported by the District Court.

"I ran the argument on the basis of the loss to Mathieu - he had one opportunity in his life to win the World Championships and he'd lost that opportunity.

"He'd trained for that opportunity, he'd let his country down, he'd let his team down...and he'd shown genuine contrition after the event.

"There were substantial losses [to him].

"He'll look back in 20 years' time and just wish he never did what he did."

Van der Poel is a European silver medallist in the road race too.

He is an accomplished cyclo-cross rider, with four senior world gold medals to his name too.

The Dutchman also has one-day victories at Tour of Flanders, Strade Bianche and Grand Prix de Wallonie to his name.