Polish team race Amstel Gold after police recover their stolen bikes

Poland’s CCC Sprandi Polkowice team were reunited with their bikes ahead of today’s Amstel Gold Race after they were stolen on Thursday night.

Dutch police managed to recover all but two of the stolen bikes, supplied by the Italian firm Guerciotti, reports Radio Poland.

They had been stolen from outside the UCI Professional Continental team’s hotel for the race in the south-east Netherlands.

Sports director Piotr Wadecki said it is believed the thieves “got scared because the news about the burglary was spread widely across Europe.

“They left most of the stolen bikes in a car, which they abandoned near Valkenburg,” he added.

“Two bikes and a few wheels are still missing, and we hope we will get them back too, but we are happy that most of the equipment was found,” he added.

The team's top-place rider today was the Slovenian, Jan Tratnik, who came home in 89th place. The race was won by Philippe Gilbert of Quick Step Floors.

With team vehicles regularly carrying tens of thousands of pounds worth of bikes and other equipment, thieves have targeted a number of professional outfits in recent years, with Team Sky among the victims.

It was hit on the eve of the early season French race the Tour du Haur Var in 2016, with thieves getting away with 16 Pinarello bikes.

> Team Sky ride Tour du Haut Var despite overnight theft of 16 bikes