Trek-Segafredo Women had six bikes stolen the night before they were set to line up for Strade Bianche.
Thieves broke into the roof of the truck and took six Émonda models that the team were set to use in the first women's WorldTour event back after the coronavirus break.
The squad will still start the race but on spare bikes, with Lizzie Deignan taking the start line for the American outfit.
The team have taken a strong line-up to Italy, with Deignan accompanied by Lucinda Brand, Elisa Longo Borghini, Ellen van Dijk, Tayler Wiles and Ruth Winder.
>>> How to live stream Strade Bianche 2020: watch the first WorldTour race of the new season
"Bad start to the day for the team in Italy. Six Trek Émonda of the women team were stolen in the night. The thieves broke through the roof of the truck and took the bikes. The riders will still start Strade Bianche on spare bikes," the team said.
Trek-Segafredo will face tough competition on the gravel roads of Sien as they face reigning champion Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott), Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans) and Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv).
Thank you for reading 10 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
-
-
'I'm studying maths – my brain needs something else besides cycling': Thomas Gloag on his hunger for learning on and off the bike
The 21-year-old Londoner and new Jumbo-Visma signing on rising to the challenge as he begins his WorldTour career
-
Jess Roberts doubles up at British Track Championships as 19 year-old sprinter topples Olympian
Comeback queen wins her first solo national title in the scratch race
-
All the 2023 kits: EF Education-EasyPost share latest collaboration with Rapha
American WorldTour team become latest to release their new 2023 kit, here's the rest
-
From the World Championships to Paris-Roubaix: Cycling Weekly's wins of 2022
It is hard to look past Annemiek van Vleuten, but we tried, so here is the best win of the year, plus nine more
-
Van Vleuten confirms her superiority with Ceratizit Challenge GC victory
Elisa Balsamo takes the final stage bunch kick on the Madrid circuit after consummate work from Trek-Segafredo
-
Trek-Segafredo win the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta team time trial
Elisa Longo Borghini led the American squad home and will take the leader's red jersey into the remaining four stages
-
Fred Wright ‘gutted’ but still smiling after second place on Tour de France stage 13
Londoner missed out to classics specialist Mads Pedersen
-
No Covid positives at Tour de France after testing, 165 riders head into second week
All riders return negative covid tests done on Sunday evening
-
'I just come out at every race swinging': Simon Clarke achieves childhood dream with Tour de France stage win after winter of contract fears
Australian was without a team coming into the season
-
World champion Balsamo takes her second stage at the Giro Donne
The race’s third sprint finish saw the same three women contest for honours in Reggio Emilia
