Unique bikes, including the S-Works Roubaix ridden to victory at Paris-Roubaix in 2018 by Peter Sagan and a yellow-painted S-Works Tarmac that Fabian Cancellara rode when leading the Tour de France in 2010 are among the bicycles stolen in a burglary this weekend at Specialized’s California headquarters.
> Peter Sagan’s Paris-Roubaix winning Specialized S-Works Roubaix bike
The company, which is offering a $25,000 reward, estimates the thieves’ haul at $160,000, although with the bicycles taken including not just race-winning bikes but also one-off prototypes and personal bikes belonging to founder and CEO Mike Sinyard as well as other staff, the actual value is incalculable – and needless to say, some may prove impossible to shift.
Morgan Hill Police Department (MHPD) said on Facebook that officers were called to Specialized’s head office at Concord Circle at around 4.36pm on Sunday afternoon following the report of the burglary.
“Upon arrival, officers determined unknown suspects forced entry into the business during the daytime hours and stole multiple high value bicycles,” they said.
“The stolen bicycles were part of a large collection of one of a kind prototypes, race-winning and personally owned bikes Specialized had on display in their building. The total value of stolen property is estimated to be approximately $160,000.00.
“The suspects are believed to have used two different vehicles during the burglary. Video surveillance captured a maroon-coloured Toyota 4Runner and a white box van during the crime.
“The suspects placed the bicycles into the white van and both vehicles fled the scene. The maroon Toyota 4Runner was later located unoccupied in Salinas, California. The white box van containing the stolen bicycles is still outstanding.
“MHPD is actively working the investigation in cooperation with Specialized employees. Specialized Bicycle Components is offering a $25,000.00 reward to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the burglary and or the return of all stolen bicycles,” police added.
“Anyone with information regarding this investigation can contact Corporal Mindy Zen at (669) 253-4917 or the anonymous tip line 408.947-STOP (7867).”
Many of the bikes taken were located in the museum at the company’s HQ, and according to Cycling Tips, besides the two mentioned in the opening paragraph of this article, others taken included:
- Peter Sagan’s custom-painted S-Works Venge from the 2019 Tour de France
- The S-Works Shiv ridden by Tony Martin to Olympic silver in London
- An S-Works Tarmac ridden by multiple world triathlon champion and Rio gold medallist, Gwen Jorgensen
- Ned Overend’s national championship-winning S-Works Fatboy.
Cycling Tips added that with Specialized operating a reduced workforce due to the coronavirus pandemic and the burglary taking place at the weekend, no staff were threatened during the burglary nor witnessed it.
Could Siobhán paint it red and noone would notice it?
Feel so sorry for the family, likely to be in temporary accommodation for at least 6 months.
I've posted before about being 69, lifelong cyclist as my main transport, much of it in, through, under, over London and how it's bicycles that...
200 people out of a close by population of how many? Just build it and stop being a wuss
To paraphrase Field of Dreams, "Build it right and they will come: and use it!"
And a Happy Christmas to you, road.cc staff!
The odds of not being able to find a single pedestrian - just one, note, "any pedestrian" - in an area containing more than about ten of them who...
I love how wannabe racer reviewers talk about fork flex under braking like their tyres are made of glue. I find traction gives long before fork flex.
They don't make them like they used to
Thanks for using my picture of chocolate in your opening picture. The original can be found here, chocolate! | LongitudeLatitude | Flickr.