Reward offered for information leading to recovery of bikes, equipment and other items

Describing the matter as one of ‘enormous’ significance, the Lampre Merida team has been hit by a major break-in overnight, and has lost equipment totalling an undisclosed – but very considerable – amount.



The Italian WorldTour team has circulated details of each of the items which were lost, and have offered a reward for information leading to their recovery.



“Team Lampre Merida suffered a robbery at the headquarters in Usmate Velate in a time period yet to be determined, but between the evening of Saturday November 23rd and the morning of Monday, November 25th,” it said in a statement.



“After breaking a window the thieves got into the warehouse which houses the headquarters of the blue-fuscia-green team and destroyed the alarm system controls, then focussed on the raid. The attention of the criminals was directed towards bikes and cycling equipment.



“The damage is enormous, both from a point of view of economics, and also of logistics, as the stolen bikes were ready to be delivered to the riders in the first meeting at Darfo Boario Terme and then used in the 2014 season.”



The squad said the police are already involved and, in conjunction with the team, an extensive search for the stolen items has been started.



Lampre Merida has said that the equipment stolen is easily identifiable as it has been customised, and given full details of what was taken. The list includes:



- Merida TT Warp time trial bikes, team colours, complete with wheels and components

- Merida Reacto Evo bikes, team colour, complete with wheels and components

- Merida Ride bikes, team colour, complete with wheels and components

- Merida Sculpture bikes, team colours, complete with wheels and components

- Merida frames ready for assembly

- Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 11 speed electronic groupsets

- Fulcrum carbon wheels - fuchsia coloured lenticular models and high-profile rims (80 mm, 50 mm, 35 mm and 25 mm)

- Selle San Marco (model 2013) and Prologo saddles (2014 models)

- Measuring systems : SRM ( 2013 season ) and Rotor with computer Garmin ( 2014 season )

- All the spare parts relating to the bike



A mechanics van and team car have also been taken.



The team has told VeloNation that in total over 100 bikes were stolen.



It requests that anyone with knowledge of the theft or who spots any items relating to it contact the team, either via email at team@teamlampremerida.com or by phoning the mechanic at +39 335 6217725. A reward will be given.



The theft follows several other robberies this year, although these happened at races. Teams hit include Garmin-Sharp, RadioShack Leopard, Europcar and Synergy Baku, plus the Russian and Danish national teams at the world championships.



It is not clear if one gang is responsible for most or all of the crimes, or if there are several at work.



The team has issued a photo of the bike models concerned - click on the image below to expand it.

