Lidl-Trek boss knows why Visma | Lease a Bike was targeted in bike robbery and offered help: "They were a bit unfortunate"

“We saw the massive damage the thieves had caused, so we immediately told Visma | Lease a Bike that whatever they needed, we were ready to help,” said the 52-year-old Italian. “Whether it was bikes, groupsets, helmets, or mechanics… anything necessary to be ready for Stage 3. I also helped translate for the police and detectives to help speed up the process a bit. It’s about mutual respect between teams. We know how difficult it is to wake up and find your truck completely emptied.”

And so, Visma | Lease a Bike, Lidl-Trek, and the also-present Movistar joined forces. A beautiful gesture, but unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time mass bike theft has occurred during a race this year. During both the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes, Cofidis was also targeted. Guercilena recognizes the issue: “I think we're getting to a point where we’ll need to hire real security guards at night, physical security. Now that so many teams are staying in the same hotels, the damage can be huge, especially with equipment becoming more and more valuable.”  

According to Lidl-Trek team manager Luca Guercilena, insurance companies do exist for situations like this, but claims take time, and time is something pro cycling teams don’t have during a stage race, where every day is a logistical sprint to make the start line. He explained that most teams had arrived at their hotels near Turin on the Wednesday before the Vuelta began and would stay there until Tuesday morning, when Stage 4 departs Italy. That extended stay may have given the thieves the window they needed to plan and execute the heist.

Still, Guercilena emphasized that Visma | Lease a Bike was simply unlucky. “They were a bit unfortunate with how they had to park their trucks at the hotel,” he said. “We were able to block the back doors of our trucks with a car, but that wasn’t possible where Visma’s truck was parked. I’m sure they would’ve done the same if the layout had allowed it. Maybe things would have turned out differently.”

“We are dealing with organized crime here, we’re not talking about people just snooping around,” emphasized Lidl-Trek manager Luca Guercilena. During winter training camps in Calpe, his team hires security guards. But during stage races, Guercilena noted, teams like his bring around fifty bikes, including time trial bikes. Not all of that can be stored inside the hotel. “And that’s just the bikes,” he added. “There’s so much more equipment that’s incredibly valuable. We really need to find a solution.”

INEOS Grenadiers sports director Christian Knees, when asked, admitted he doesn’t have that solution yet. The 44-year-old German said bike theft has always been an issue in pro cycling, and that thieves can be dangerous. “You could have mechanics sleep inside the trucks, but that comes with serious risks,” he said. “Right now, it’s just about stolen bikes, but you never know what could happen if someone’s inside. Luckily, Visma still had enough bikes, and the cycling community really steps up in moments like this. Sometimes we hire security guards, and beyond that, all you can do is lock everything as well as possible.”

Bram van der Ploeg ( Twitter: @BvdPloegg | email : [email protected])