Bike Theft at Vuelta, Red Jersey Team Van Broken Into

Turin: Some 20 racing bicycles belonging to the team of Vuelta a Espana leader Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark were stolen from the team van near Turin Sunday night, the team reported Monday. The first three stages of the round-Spain grand tour are taking place in Italy for the first time this year, before stage four heads over the Alps into France.

According to Ansa News Agency, the bikes, worth hundreds of thousands of euros, were stolen from the van of Team Visma – Lease a Bike. The team is led by Vingegaard, who recently won the second stage of the race with a mountaintop finish in Limone Piemonte (Cuneo), to claim the leader’s red jersey. Team Visma itself reported the theft on X, stating, “Last night, our mechanics’ van was broken into and several bikes were stolen. Our mechanics are working hard to ensure the team is fully prepared for stage three.”

The police have launched an investigation into the incident. Reports indicate that the theft occurred during the night in San Maurizio Canavese (Turin), from where the race begins its third and final Italian stage today, arriving in Ceres, in the Lanzo Valley (Turin). The Vuelta is the third biggest stage race grand tour after the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia.