Chinese track team loses £20,000 worth of bikes to thieves

Thieves struck at the team's hotel near Paris, breaking into the van and taking the already-boxed bikes worth £20,000

Session two of the 2014 UCI Track Worlds. Men's and women's team sprint finals.
Feb. 18, 2015

(Image credit: Watson)

Earlier, we reported how the Danish squad Cult Energy had to abandon Haut Var when thieves broke into their truck and stole all 36 of its Ridley race bikes.

Well, it turns out the road riders weren’t the only ones targeted by thieves at the weekend, with the Chinese national track squad seeing their bikes stolen near Paris.

The bikes, reportedly worth around £20,000, were taken from a van at the team’s hotel overnight on Sunday. The bikes were boxed up in preparation for the flight home when the thieves struck.

“We will have to see if the CCYV camera images are clear enough,” a police source said. According to AFP the back door to the van had been forced.

China finished in seventh place on the medals table, with one gold and a bronze in the women’s team sprint and individual sprint respectively. The team took 21 riders to Paris, where the French and Australians stole the show, coming away with nine gold medals between them.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.