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Matilda Price

'Made-to-order theft' – Patrick Lefevere blames organised crime gangs for bike robberies blighting peloton

Patrick Lefevere Quickstep Cofidis WorldTour
ALBA, ITALY - AUGUST 24: Red Canyon bike of Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Team Alpecin - Deceuninck - Red Leader Jersey prior to the La Vuelta - 80th Tour of Spain 2025, Stage 2 a 159.5km stage from Alba to Limone Piemonte 1389m / #UCIWT / on August 24, 2025 in Alba, Italy. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images).

Former Soudal-QuickStep CEO Patrick Lefevere has blamed organised crime gangs for the bike thefts that have blighted WorldTour teams in the last few months, with two teams being robbed in a matter of days last week.

Visma-Lease a Bike were victims of a theft to the value of €250,000 during the Vuelta a España last week, whilst the TotalEnergies team at the Tour Poitou-Charentes had 20 bikes stolen just a few days later in France.

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