2021-10-07 3pm - Rider down - Richmond Park - Mopeds

Thought this was worth highlighting, wasn't sure if best here or a more moped related crime thread.

Alexandar Richardson (Alpecin-Fenix rider) deliberately knocked off and bike stolen by four people on two mopeds in balaclavas with a machete.

Seems pretty blatant for a Thursday afternoon in Richmond Park.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/british-pro-alexandar-richardson-has-bike-stolen-by-knife-wielding-gang-in-richmond-park

Brazen, may or may not be the same group but this was the day before
https://twitter.com/jam211191/status/1446166812681510924?t=3nn3TFsaauRpEQCvy7sJpg&s=19

It's appalling. On a Thursday afternoon in a central London park, this could happen to any one of us.

The only protection is insurance, Royal Parks police are too busy trying to book speeding cyclists than armed moped gangs.

Quite horrific... hopefully it's dealt with and doesn't put people off this quite special park.

Jesus wept

Must have been horrible road rash:

Mr Richardson desperately clung onto his £10,000 bike and was dragged up to 100 metres by one of the motorcycles. One of the robbers then threatened him with a 15 inch machete at which point he handed over his cycle.

[...]

“Luckily I’m used to physical injury, you just get up and get on with it. But I warn others it be very careful. My bike is by Specialized and is very distinctive. I’m hoping I can get it back.”

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/alex-richardson-richmond-park-london-attack-machete-police-b959465.html

Such a shit thing to happen. Hope he recovers soon, both mentally and physically.

Slightly irrelevant here but interesting that he was on a Specialized when his team is sponsored by Canyon. No wonder wasn't so quick to let go of it if it was his own rather than a team bike.

Either way, it'll probably be very hard to shift, or maybe they'll junk the frame and only sell the groupset or something. :(