Team Visma | Lease a Bike was the victim of a theft during the ongoing Vuelta a España on the night of 25 August 2025. As the team announced on its official social media channel, unknown persons broke into one of the mechanics' trucks and stole several racing bikes. "Last night our mechanics truck was broken into and several bikes were stolen," the team explained in a message on the platform X. The incident occurred after the second stage of this year's Tour of Spain, which was won by Jonas Vingegaard. The local police have launched an investigation to find the stolen bikes and identify the perpetrators. The break-in poses considerable logistical challenges for the Dutch WorldTour team. The mechanics had to work flat out to prepare the equipment for the upcoming third stage.
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Team manager Richard Plugge comments
As team manager Richard Plugge explained before the start of stage 3 at Eurosport explained, the team has enough bikes to equip all the riders. "The mechanics have done an incredibly good job," explained Plugge, also confirming that some of the stolen bikes were left behind by the thieves. "Bikes were indeed found. The police are still investigating. I don't know why they left these bikes behind."
Logistical challenges for the team of mechanics
For the team, the theft not only means a material loss, but also an increased stress factor in the already demanding daily routine of a three-week Grand Tour. In a Grand Tour like the Vuelta a España, each rider usually has several racing bikes - at least one main bike and one or more spare bikes that are set up exactly the same. These bikes have to be precisely adjusted to the riders' body measurements and preferences.
Safety concerns in professional cycling
The incident throws a spotlight on the security situation at major tours. The teams travel to the races with expensive equipment. The high-quality racing bikes of the WorldTour teams often have an individual value of more than 10,000 euros each, which makes them attractive targets for thieves. The carbon frames and electronic groupsets are particularly sought after on the black market. During the three-week Grand Tours, the teams have to transport all their equipment every day and leave it in hotels or car parks, which poses potential security risks.
Despite surveillance systems and security personnel, thefts occur time and again. Other teams have been affected by similar incidents in the past. For example, during the Tour de France 2024 Several bikes belonging to the TotalEnergies team stolen. Although the organisers of the grand tours work with local authorities to ensure safety, the teams remain vulnerable during the races.
