UPDATE: Giro cyclist's bike stolen after race
Hours after racing in the Giro di Burnaby, one of the cyclists had his bicycle stolen from the garage of his homestay family.
Toronto-based cyclist Anton Varabei, of Team Jet Fuel Coffee La Bicicletta, is out an expensive bike, a 2009 Focus Izalco 58cm with a wheelset that reads "Dura Ace."
Varabei, 26, said he returned to his North Burnaby homestay after the race at about 10:30 p.m. He put the bike in the garage behind the house and locked the door behind him.
That was the last time he saw the bike.
"When I woke up I heard the news from our host that the garage was broken into and all the bikes were stolen."
Asked if he could have been followed home from the race, he said, "I could only guess. It's kind of suspicious the garage got broken into the day of the event."
His bike retails for about $5,000 and is actually owned by the team. He did not know if it was insured.
Nevertheless, he's been training on it all year.
"It's been set up perfect for myself and it's the bike I've been training on. It's always better to ride on your bike but in that situation, I don't really have a choice right now."
Varabei is racing in the Tour de White Rock this weekend, July 13 to 15 and then in the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, Oregon July 17 to 22.
Unless his bike is returned, he'll be racing using a spare bicycle belonging to the team director's son. On Friday morning, crews were trying to build it up to suit Varabei for racing.
"It's a little bit stressful right now, it's bit of a headache to deal with on the morning before the race, and now riding a bike that's probably not going to be fitted well for me."
His German Focus bike is fairly distinctive, he said, but the main concern is that it's likely to be broken down and sold for parts.
Also stolen were two bicycles belonging to the homestay family: a 2011 grey Rocky Mountain RC50 D4, serial number PRK0872643 and a 2011 light blue Brodie Infinity, serial number GKSM93603.
A reward is being offered for information leading to the stolen bikes being recovered. Anyone with information is asked to call 604-299-2092.
wchow@burnabynewsleader.com
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