Danish Pro Continental team Cult Energy Pro Cycling became the latest squad to become victims of thieves in Europe when their truck was broken into and completely emptied on Saturday night while competing at the Tour de Haut Var. Fabian Wegmann had placed fourth on stage 1, but he and the rest of the team were forced to abandon the race as they had no bikes to ride.

"It's just devastating. We had a car parked in front of the back of the truck, so the thieves somehow must have moved the car and then broke the lock to the truck," said the team’s sports director Michael Skelde.

Last year Team Sky were robbed of 16 bikes by thieves on the eve of the race,  but were able to compete after sourcing new bikes from its nearby training base in Nice and borrowing one bike from the Bretagne-Séché team, which was sharing the same hotel as Sky.

Cult Energy was not so lucky and their participation in next week's races is now in jeopardy.

"They stole everything - bikes, wheels and all our equipment. Now we're waiting for the police to show up and start their investigation. We won't be racing today and I reckon it's doubtful that we will be ready for next week's Het Nieuwsblad. I'm hoping for a miracle," Skelde said.