UAE Team ADQ Appeals for Information After Theft of Paula Blasi’s Race Bike

UAE Team ADQ has officially appealed to the public for assistance in locating a Colnago V4Rs—identified by the team as the bike used by Paula Blasi—following its theft near the finish line of Stage 1 of the Volta a Catalunya Femenina. The incident occurred on June 7, 2024, in Santa Susanna, Spain, shortly after the conclusion of the stage.

How the theft occurred in Santa Susanna

The bicycle was stolen from a parking area adjacent to the race’s finish zone and the team hotel, where multiple professional squads had gathered after the stage. According to an official statement released by UAE Team ADQ, the bike is a custom-built Colnago featuring the team’s specific race livery and components, which the team claims makes it highly recognizable and difficult to sell on the secondary market. The team confirmed that the theft has been reported to the local Spanish authorities, and an official investigation is currently underway.

Rising trend of professional cycling equipment theft

The theft of high-end race equipment has become a recurring issue for professional cycling teams across Europe. The incident involving Blasi’s bike follows a pattern of organized equipment heists that have targeted the sport’s top-tier teams in recent seasons:

• Visma-Lease a Bike: The team reported the loss of 18 bikes during the 2023 Vuelta a España.
• TotalEnergies: Approximately 20 bikes were stolen from the team during the 2023 Tour Poitou-Charentes in France.
• Cofidis: The team experienced two separate incidents, with 11 bikes stolen during the Tour de France—which were later recovered—followed by the theft of 11 bikes from their women’s team during the 2023 Baloise Ladies Tour in Belgium.

Why bike security remains a challenge for teams

Professional cycling teams face significant logistical hurdles in securing equipment while on the road. Unlike other sports that utilize permanent stadium facilities, road cycling teams operate out of temporary environments, including hotel parking lots and service vehicles, often in high-traffic public areas. The value of modern professional race bikes, which often exceed $15,000 when fully equipped with electronic shifting and carbon wheelsets, creates a lucrative black market for thieves. The incident in Santa Susanna highlights the ongoing difficulty teams face in protecting assets during the transition periods between racing and transit.

What the team is asking of the public

UAE Team ADQ has requested that anyone with information regarding the bicycle or suspicious activity in the Santa Susanna parking area on June 7 contact local law enforcement. The team emphasizes that due to the specialized nature of the frame and the team-specific components, the bicycle is not a standard retail model and stands out significantly to anyone familiar with the professional peloton. Paula Blasi, 23, continues her season with the team as the investigation remains open.