Tour de France: Geraint Thomas hopes thief has ‘good grace’ to return stolen trophy

The Tour de France trophy won by Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas this summer has been stolen from a display in Birmingham, England, the British team has confirmed.

Team Sky had been displaying all three grand tour trophies won by its riders – last year’s Vuelta a Espana and this year’s Giro d’Italia secured by Chris Froome and Thomas’ Tour trophy, which he won in July.

In a statement, Team Sky said it had loaned the trophies to bicycle manufacturers Pinarello. Thomas’ Tour trophy was stolen when it was “momentarily left unattended” during the clear-up operation at the end of the Cycle Show at the National Exhibition Center.

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Police are investigating and Team Sky said it was “liaising with all relevant parties to agree on the best course of action to resolve the issue.”

Tour de France 2018 winner Geraint Thomas holds the Welsh flag as he celebrates on the podium in Paris.

Spectators cheer as a pack of cyclists rides uphill during the 17th stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday, July 25.

Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana celebrates after winning the 17th stage on July 25.

British cyclist Geraint Thomas grimaces as he crosses the finish line on July 25. He had been leading the Tour since the end of the 11th stage.

Spectators gather on a slope on July 25.

Dutch cyclist Bauke Mollema devours a sandwich after finishing the 17th stage.

Belgium's Philippe Gilbert stands on the podium after the 16th stage on Tuesday, July 24. He injured his leg in a crash and had to bow out of the Tour.

A police officer sprays tear gas at one protester as another protester stands in front of the race director's car on July 24. Protesting farmers had blocked the road with hay bales, and the race was temporarily halted after tear gas inadvertently got into the eyes of some riders.

Colombia's Daniel Felipe Martinez cleans his eyes after tear gas was used in the protests on July 24.

Gendarmes detain a protesting farmer as the pack rides behind them.

The pack rides past sunflower fields on July 24.

Denmark's Magnus Nielsen celebrates after winning the 15th stage on Sunday, July 22.

Riders' shadows are seen near the finish line after the 15th stage.

Team Sky, with Geraint Thomas wearing the yellow jersey, rides together during the 14th stage on Saturday, July 21.

Germany's Nils Politt passes an exuberant fan during the 11th stage on July 18.

Cyclists crash at the end of the ninth stage on July 15.

France's Alexis Vuillermoz had plenty of water for the eighth stage on July 14.

A pack rides by a burning haystack during the sixth stage on July 12.

Belgium's Jasper De Buyst, left, and Britain's Chris Froome get back on the road after crashing during the first stage on July 7. Froome is the defending champion.

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Thomas, the first Welshman to win the Tour, said: “It is incredibly unfortunate that this has happened.

“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.”

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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.”