Geraint Thomas Tour de France trophy theft investigation stalls
Police say they need further evidence as all current leads have been investigated
The investigation into to theft of Geraint Thomas’s Tour de France trophy has ground to a halt.
West Midlands Police confirmed to Cycling Weekly that while the case remains open all current leads have been pursued and without further information there is nothing left for them to look into.
The force declined to go into further detail on an on-going investigation.
The Team Sky rider’s trophy was stolen from the Cycle Show in Birmingham where it had been on display in October last year.
The team said the Coupe Omnisports trophy was “momentarily left unattended” at bike brand Pinarello’s stand, where it had been on display, while the stand was being packed up after the show and was stolen.
At the time of the trophy’s disappearance Thomas said: “Hopefully whoever took it will have the good grace to return it. A trophy is important, but clearly what matters most are the amazing memories from this incredible summer – and no-one can ever take those away.”
The Times reported that only workers at the Birmingham NEC Arena would have been present when the trophy went missing, not members of the public, who would have already been ushered out by security.
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Welshman Thomas was presented with a replacement from Tour de France organiser ASO at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in December but the original is yet to be found.
Detective inspector Jon Kiteley from West Midlands CID said: "The trophy was packed into a white storage box and it is believed that this box has gone missing at some point while the show was being packed away and loaded onto the removal van.”
He repeated a call for anyone who had information to contact the force quoting crime reference number 20SH/225824R/18, via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk or by calling call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Having trained as a journalist at Cardiff University I spent eight years working as a business journalist covering everything from social care, to construction to the legal profession and riding my bike at the weekends and evenings. When a friend told me Cycling Weekly was looking for a news editor, I didn't give myself much chance of landing the role, but I did and joined the publication in 2016. Since then I've covered Tours de France, World Championships, hour records, spring classics and races in the Middle East. On top of that, since becoming features editor in 2017 I've also been lucky enough to get myself sent to ride my bike for magazine pieces in Portugal and across the UK. They've all been fun but I have an enduring passion for covering the national track championships. It might not be the most glamorous but it's got a real community feeling to it.