The French cycling team Cofidis has once again fallen victim to theft. After a number of bikes were stolen from the men’s team earlier in the Tour de France, this time it was the women’s team’s turn.
“Once again, bikes have been stolen from our riders,” said team leader Arthur Quilliec on Wednesday in Bruges. His team starts Wednesday evening in Yerseke, Zeeland, at the Baloise Ladies Tour, a Dutch-Belgian stage race.
“The police are still fully engaged in the investigation,” said Quilliec of the team for which the Dutch Kirstie van Haaften rides. “I can confirm that we have had thieves and that a number of our Look bikes have been stolen.”
Quilliec may not say “in the interest of the investigation” how many and what type of bikes were stolen. He emphasizes that the Baloise Ladies Tour is not in danger for the team, because the stage race starts with a prologue. “Then our riders ride on their time trial bikes.”
In the Tour de France, eleven bikes from the Cofidis men’s team were stolen after the first stage, with a value of approximately 13,000 euros each. Those bikes were quickly recovered. No arrests have been made as far as is known.