Dutch cycling star Mathieu van der Poel will face court in Sydney next week after being charged with assault.

He was arrested only hours before Sunday’s men’s world championship road race, where van der Poel was one of the title favourites.

The 27-year-old started the 266.9km race that finishes in Wollongong, but withdrew about an hour into the event.

“I went to bed early and many children in the hallway of my room found it necessary to knock on the door continuously,” the rider told the Belgian website Sporza before the start of the race.

“After a few times I was done with it. I didn’t ask so nicely to stop. Then the police were called and I was taken.

“I wasn’t back in my room until 4 o’clock. That’s certainly not ideal. It’s a disaster, but I can’t change anything anymore.”

NSW Police said a 27-year-old man was allegedly involved in an argument with two teenage girls at a hotel in the Sydney suburb of Brighton-Le-Sands.

Charged with common assault

Police said it was alleged the man pushed the two girls, with one falling over and the other hitting a wall, suffering a minor graze to her elbow.

Multiple media reports identified the man as van der Poel. The Dutch team has been based at Brighton-Le-Sands for the world championships.

Van der Poel was taken to Kogarah Police Station and charged with two counts of common assault.

Media reports said he was with police until about 4am, with the race starting at 10.15am.

He was released on bail and will appear in Sutherland court on Tuesday.

-AAP