Thieves attacked a Visma-Lease a Bike team mechanics truck Sunday night during the Vuelta a España, using a pickaxe to break into the vehicle and steal several bicycles. Italian police have opened an investigation.
Reports indicate the team lost 18 bicycles in the robbery. Visma-Lease a Bike stated that its mechanics are “working hard” to ensure the team is fully prepared for Monday’s Stage 3.
The Brazen Heist
Visma-Lease a Bike, currently leading the Giro d’Italia, confirmed this morning that they are the latest top-tier team to be targeted by thieves at a major race. According to reports, the thieves used a pickaxe to force entry into the team’s mechanics truck, making off with a large number of Cervélo bikes.
The robbery took place in a suburb of Turin at the hotel where the team has been staying since the start of the Vuelta a España. The heist resulted in the theft of 18 bikes, with an estimated total value of £220,000. The Movistar and Lidl-Trek teams, also staying at the same hotel, appear to have been unaffected by the incident.
Racing On Despite the Setback
Despite the significant theft, Jonas Vingegaard and his Visma-Lease a Bike teammates are expected to have sufficient equipment to start Stage 3 of the Vuelta a España this afternoon. The stage is a challenging 135-kilometer route from San Maurizio Canavese to Ceres, once again held entirely within the Piedmont region of Northern Italy.
Vingegaard himself won Stage 2 of the 2025 Vuelta a España.
Spanish sports newspaper AS later reported that some of the Dutch team’s bikes had been recovered, though this information has not yet been confirmed by the team.
A Growing Trend in the Peloton
Professional teams and riders have increasingly become attractive targets for criminals, who are drawn by the high value of top-level racing bicycles. This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by teams competing in high-profile events.
