Geraint Thomas's Tour de France trophy stolen at bike show

LONDON (AFP) — Geraint Thomas’s Tour de France trophy has been stolen after being displayed at a cycle show, Team Sky said on Wednesday.

Sky has been displaying all three grand tour trophies — won by Thomas and Chris Froome at the 2017 Vuelta a Espana, 2018 Giro d’Italia, and 2018 Tour de France — at various events in Great Britain.

The trophies had been loaned to the team’s bike supplier Pinarello for the Cycle Show, which was held in Birmingham over the last weekend in September.

Sky say the trophy was stolen after being momentarily left unattended while the display was packed up at the end of the event. The matter is now the subject of a police investigation.

“It is incredibly unfortunate that this has happened,” said Thomas. “It goes without saying that the trophy is of pretty limited value to whoever took it, but means a lot to me and to the team.

“Hopefully, whoever took it will have the good grace to return it. A trophy is important, but clearly what matters most are the amazing memories from this incredible summer — and no one can ever take those away.”

Richard Hemington, managing director of Pinarello UK, said: “We are obviously devastated about this. We accept full responsibility and have personally apologized to Geraint. Obviously we all hope that the trophy can be recovered.”