Sacré bleu! Tour de France trophy stolen during UK tour
Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas has made desperate appeals for thieves to return his trophy, after it was announced today that the coveted cycling prize was stolen at a show in Birmingham.
The trophy, which was lent to bike maker Pinarello, was on a tour across the UK with Sky team’s other Grand Tour titles when it was stolen at an NEC rally after being left unattended.
Sky, which revealed the news on Twitter earlier this morning, said it is now “liaising with all relevant parties to agree on the best course of action to resolve the issue”.
Thomas, who claimed first place for Team Sky in the gruelling cycle race in July, said that the loss of the black and gold trophy was “incredibly unfortunate”.
What the Sky team said
The trophies were loaned to Pinarello (Team Sky's bike supplier) for the recent Cycle Show at the NEC in Birmingham.
Regrettably, during the clear-up operation at the end of the event, Geraint Thomas' Tour de France trophy was momentarily left unattended and stolen.
The matter is obviously now subject to a police investigation. In the meantime, Team Sky are liaising with all relevant parties to agree on the best course of action to resolve the issue."
What Geraint Thomas said
It is incredibly unfortunate that this has happened. It goes without saying that the trophy is of pretty limited value to whoever took it, but means a lot to me and to the Team.
Hopefully whoever took it will have the good grace to return it. A trophy is important, but clearly what matters most are the amazing memories from this incredible summer – and no one can ever take those away."