October 1/04 4:15 am - Team Australia Lose Bikes to Thieves

Posted by Editoress on 10/1/04
 

Thieves Steal Team Australia Bikes
Courtesy Team Australia

The Australian 'Cyclones' at the World Road Cycling Championships in Italy awoke this morning to discover thieves had struck overnight and stolen eight team bikes from the garage of the team's hotel in Lazise, west of Verona.

Professional riders Cadel Evans (T-Mobile), Matthew Hayman (Rabobank) and Matt White's (Cofidis) race bikes for Sunday's road race were stolen along with the training bike of newly crowned 2004 and 2003 time trial World Champion, Michael Rogers (Quick.Step-Davitamon).

Olympic teams pursuit gold medallist Peter Dawson was forced to line up for the U23 road race on a spare bike while three of the junior men, Patrick Shaw, Andrew Wade and Simon Clarke, will race tomorrow on bikes borrowed from their U23 team mates.

Assorted other items including Polar watches and SRM heart rate monitors were also taken with the total value of the stolen items estimated at $60,000 (Euro35,000).

Italian police are investigating and insurance options are being pursued but the loss will be most keenly felt by the juniors who do not all have professional teams or major sponsors who can replace their machines.