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Bike Thieves Target Vuelta a España Leaders, Steal €250,000 Worth of Racing Bicycles
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Turin, Italy – A brazen theft has rocked the Vuelta a España, with thieves making off with 18 racing bicycles belonging to the Visma-Lease a Bike team, including those of stage winner Jonas Vingegaard. The incident occurred overnight at the Novotel hotel in Turin, where the team is based during the race.
The Theft and Recovery
The joy surrounding Vingegaard’s victory in the second stage and his acquisition of the red jersey was short-lived. According to reports, a group of thieves forced entry into the team’s vans on sunday, August 24, 2025, and stole bicycles with an estimated total value of €250,000.
Fortunately, three of the stolen bikes, including Vingegaard’s, were recovered later that night in a nearby lawn. Authorities believe the thieves may have underestimated the difficulty of transporting the bicycles.
The Carabinieri, the Italian national police force, are currently investigating the incident.
Rapid Response and Replacement Bikes
Visma-Lease a Bike quickly moved to mitigate the impact of the theft, ordering a new shipment of bicycles from Cervélo, their Canadian supplier and technical sponsor with a significant presence in Spain. This ensures the team can compete in Monday’s third stage, which runs from San Maurizio Canavese to Ceres.
“We woke up in the worst possible way,” said Richard plugge, General Manager of Visma-Lease a Bike.
“But I must say that thanks to the enormous work of our mechanics we will have the necessary means to run and for any replacements in the running. Some bikes have been found,frankly I don’t know why it was decided to abandon them,but I don’t want to go into further analyses given the investigations in progress.”
plugge also expressed gratitude for the assistance offered by other teams staying at the same hotel, specifically Movistar and Lidl-Trek.
Vuelta a España 2025: Key trends and Insights
The 2025 vuelta a España is already proving to be a race filled with drama, both on and off the road. The early stages have highlighted the strength of Jonas Vingegaard and the Visma-Lease a Bike team, but this incident underscores the logistical challenges and security concerns faced by professional cycling teams. The race is expected to be a battle between Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and other top contenders, with a challenging course that includes steep mountain climbs and fast, flat stages. The use of advanced bicycle technology, like those manufactured by Cervélo, is crucial for performance, making the theft a significant setback for the affected team.
Frequently Asked Questions
- what is the Vuelta a España?
- The Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) is one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, alongside the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. It’s a multi-stage bicycle race held annually in Spain.
- Who is Jonas Vingegaard?
- jonas Vingegaard is a Danish professional road cyclist who rides for Visma-Lease a Bike. He is a two-time winner of the Tour de France and a leading contender in the Vuelta a España.
- What is Cervélo?
- Cervélo is a Canadian bicycle manufacturer specializing in high-performance road and triathlon bicycles. They are a technical sponsor of the Visma-Lease a Bike team.