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Stolen $10,000 Specialized returned to Evelyn Stevens, riding for Boels-Dolmans, after hotel bike theft

American Evelyn Stevens, riding in today's women's time trial for Dutch team Boels-Dolmans, might find herself breathing a heavy sigh of relief this morning -- and thinking glowing thoughts about the city of Richmond, Virginia.

September 20, 2015
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The stolen Specialized bike was returned to its owner, Evelyn Stevens, seen here in 2010. (Image: Steve Ryan)
The stolen Specialized bike was returned to its owner, Evelyn Stevens, seen here in 2010. (Image: Steve Ryan)

American Evelyn Stevens, riding in today’s women’s time trial for Dutch team Boels-Dolmans, might find herself breathing a heavy sigh of relief this morning — and thinking glowing thoughts about the city of Richmond, Virginia.

It was Stevens’s Specialized S-Works that was stolen Thursday from the Richmond Marriott, not far from the finish line of the 2015 UCI road world championships.

On Saturday, however, responding to a tip received early that afternoon, Richmond police recovered the $10,000 bike and returned it to the team. The tip, police sources told the Richmond Times Dispatch, led them to a suspect at the corner of East Broad Street and North 5th, not far from the scene of the crime. When they found the man, they found the bike.

The suspect remains in custody, reports say, undergoing questioning.

After the story of the stolen bike was first reported, the response from the Richmond community, sources with the UCI road world championships told journalists, was remarkable. “The outpouring of affection and attention for this athlete was amazing,” said Paul Shanks, spokesperson for Richmond 2015, the event’s organizers. While reminding other athletes to keep a vigilant eye on their own bikes, Shanks was quick to praise Richmond police, crediting their “speedy work” for the well-timed resolution to the issue.

Getting her bike back at all but the eleventh hour on the eve of competition, Stevens took to Twitter on Saturday afternoon, effusive in her gratitude for police and the city of Richmond itself. “”My shiv outfitted by@SRAMracing @ZippSpeed @quarq @iamspecialized was so speedy it found its way homeThx @RichmondPolice&this wonderful city.” Police, meanwhile, confirmed the bike was safely back in the team’s hands, and expressed their hope that it’s used in today’s competition — something other social media accounts have suggested will indeed be the case.