Italian police investigate theft of bikes belonging to team of Vuelta leader Jonas Vingegaard

By Canadian Press on August 25, 2025.

CERES, Italy (AP) — The team of Spanish Vuelta leader Jonas Vingegaard was counting the cost of a break-in overnight with bikes reported stolen from its mechanics truck.

Team Visma-Lease a Bike said police in Italy — where the opening stages of the race are being hosted — are investigating the theft of “several bikes”.

“Our mechanics are working hard to ensure that the team is fully prepared for the third stage,” the team said in a statement.

Vingegaard took the leader’s red jersey at the Vuelta with a stage win Sunday. Addressing the theft before the start of Monday’s stage, he said: “The mechanics did a fantastic job preparing our bikes this morning.”

The Danish rider will also be missing the support of teammate Axel Zingle for the 19 days left in the Vuelta having crashed in the rain-soaked stage Sunday that also caught up the team leader. Vingegaard went on to win with a bloodied elbow, but an injury sustained in the crash has forced Zingle to abandon the entire race.

Visma said “our medical team had to decide that Axel Zingle is not fit enough to continue the Vuelta. His first Grand Tour with the team comes to an early end.”

Monday’s third stage is a 134.6-kilometer (83.6-mile) ride with an uphill finish into Ceres in the Italian Alps north west of Turin.

Vingegaard, a two-time Tour de France winner, is favored to win the Vuelta after this year’s Tour winner Tadej Pogačar and four-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic skipped the race.

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The Associated Press