If riders in a cycling race in Poland on Sunday were surprised to be joined by a suspected bike thief cycling a freshly stolen steed, they were extra shocked when he started overtaking them and mounting a breakaway bid for the finish line.
As reported in Polish news outlet TVP, police were providing security for the local race, which was taking place in the city of Sobótka in the country's southwest, when they spotted a man cycling nearby, whom they recognised from previous encounters. He was astride a spanking new, high-end road bike, a Specialized model later reported to be worth around 28,000 złoty (just shy of £5750), which the eagle-eyed officers strongly suspected he had stolen, and they ordered him to stop.
Ignoring their shouted commands, the 20-year-old man instead took flight and attempted to hide in the crowds of spectators watching the cycling event. The police gave chase and during his efforts to escape, the suspected bike thief veered onto the race route and started riding along with the competitors, pedalling so hard that at one point he managed to mount a breakaway from the main pack.
“The man even overtook the main peloton, posing a danger not only to himself but also to the riders and event staff,” said Anna Nicer, a police spokesperson from the nearby city of Wrocław in a statement the following day. “His dynamic riding meant that, for a moment, he was among the leaders and within podium reach.”
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After a spirited sprint the extraordinary breakaway came to an end and the police managed to catch the errant cyclist and recover the bike, as well as various pieces of kit he had ripped off the bars and thrown to the side during his athletic attempt to escape, including some navigation tech.
The bike, believed to be a high-spec Specialized Tarmac SL8, was subsequently returned to its relieved owner, and the miscreant has been charged with bike theft. It's believed he will be looking at a five-year prison sentence if he is found guilty and convicted, but who knows – with good behaviour he could be out in time for the 2028 or 2029 Tour of Poland, if any teams are interested in taking him on.
