Police recover Movistar bike worth €14,000 after it was stolen from Spanish national championships
The perpetrators were identified quickly after Spanish police posted their photo on social media
A bike worth €14,000 that was stolen from a Movistar rider at this weekend's Spanish national championships has been recovered by police.
While the Spanish team had an exceptionally successful weekend, with road race wins for world champion Alejandro Valverde and Lourdes Oyarbide as well as a women's time trial victory courtesy of Sheyla Gutiérrez, it wasn't tears of joy for all Movistar riders.
>>> Movistar confirm strong line-up for Tour de France 2019
According to Spanish newspaper Diario AS, the opportunistic thief swiped the bike after it was left in a corridor outside the rider's hotel room.
However, thanks to police in Murcia, who posted a picture of the suspected perpetrators on social media, the individuals responsible were identified and the bike was recovered.
The perpetrators who were subsequently identified by police (Murcia police)The police have described the collaboration from citizens as a "rapid performance" in salvaging the road bike, adding the rider had been left very scared after losing such a valuable item but was ultimately content the episode had resulted in a happy ending.
Alejandro Valverde pulled the Spanish road race champion's jersey over his world champion bands after pipping Luis León Sánchez (Astana) to the line in a two-up sprint in his home city of Murcia, with Cofidis' Jésus Herrada picking up bronze.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Valverde recently signed a contract extension with Movistar that will see the world champion racing for the team until he's 41 years old, with a stipulation that he will remain working with the squad in some capacity until 2024.
Jonathan Castroviejo (Ineos) took the time trial, beating Astana's Pello Bilbao by 49 seconds over the 39.4km course, with Gorka Izagirre (Astana) third.
Lourdes Oyarbide won the women's road race ahead of Irene Mendez and Mireia Benito (Massi-Tactic) as Sheyla Gutiérrez beat team-mate Oyarbide by 53 seconds in the time trial, with another Movistar rider Gloria Rodríguez picking up bronze.
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
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Chinese X-Lab vies for global domination as it equips XDS Astana with bikes for the WorldTour
A new partnership sees Astana aboard new bikes with increased funding for 2025
By Joe Baker Published
-
Tech of the week: Van Rysel releases an aero bike (quelle surprise!) plus a superlight carbon crankset from FSA, a long top tube bag from Tailfin and tyre liners from Zefal
The RCR-F aero bike will be ridden by the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team in 2025, but will it create headlines like the RCR?
By Luke Friend Published
-
Six things we want to see in Movistar's ‘The Least Expected Day’ season four on Netflix
The fourth season of the series following the exploits of the Spanish team expected in 2023
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Annemiek van Vleuten heads to Kenya with the Masai tribe
Dutch World Champion takes her gravel bike to Kenya for an off season adventure with the Masai tribe
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Movistar team up with Saudi Cycling Federation
Both sides will work together to promote cycling in Saudi Arabia
By Tom Davidson Published
-
What I learned from watching season three of Netflix's Movistar documentary ‘The Least Expected Day'
Enric Mas battles to reach the top and 'Superman' brings the drama in the latest instalment of the Spanish Eastenders
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Man accused of reversing into Alejandro Valverde released with charges
Valverde didn't suffer major injuries in the hit and run incident and has since been released from hospital
By Ryan Dabbs Last updated
-
Which WorldTour team has the best kit for 2022? We take a look through the wardrobe
Now almost all the kits are out, here are our measured ratings of racing kit ahead of the 2022 season
By Adam Becket Published
-
Annemiek van Vleuten says 2021 was her best year yet
Dutchwoman says she is still "hungry" to continue racing with Movistar
By Adam Becket Published
-
Movistar reveal brand new look for 2022 season
Both male and female teams will wear the new-look kit made by La Passione
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Last updated