The 2025 Tour de France was rocked by an unusual incident in the early hours of Sunday morning, when thieves attacked the Cofidis team truck and stole 11 bicycles, worth a total of around 145,000 euros. The theft occurred before the start of the second stage, which took place between Lauwin-Planque and Boulogne-sur-Mer.
According to the team, each bike was worth around 13,000 euros, but what damaged morale the most was the theft of the special 795 Blade RS bike, prepared for the leader of the mountain classification, Benjamin Thomas, who would use it on this stage.
In a statement on social media, Cofidis wrote:
“During the night from Saturday to Sunday, the Cofidis team was the victim of a theft. The doors of the workshop truck were forced open and 11 bicycles from the manufacturer LOOK Cycle were stolen, despite the security measures in place.”
Police arrived in the morning to investigate the incident and collect evidence at the scene.
This is not the first such incident in the Tour de France. Last year, the TotalEnergies team suffered a similar fate, also losing 11 bikes, along with the mechanics' tools. Meanwhile, at Milan-San Remo, cyclist Sonny Colbrelli and others managed to stop an attempted theft by a group of 10 people.
Despite this setback, Cofidis managed to provide him with spare bikes to start the race. LOOK Cycle CEO Federico Musi stated:
"We are shocked by this theft. Thanks to the efficiency of the team mechanics and our support, the cyclists were able to start today with spare bikes. Our factory in Nevers has been opened specifically to prepare replacement bikes, which will be ready tomorrow morning."
LOOK's "Iconic Black Radial" bicycles are expected to replace the stolen ones in record time, enabling the Cofidis team to continue in the race.
The incident once again raises concerns about the safety of teams in such major events as the Tour de France, where the value of equipment is extraordinary and public attention is maximum.
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