A keen amateur cyclist who has raised thousands of pounds for charity, found himself leading the Tour of Britain last Wednesday. But since his escapade attracted the attention of the national press he has had his Specialized S-Works bike stolen.
Roger Armstrong, 56, was on a training ride when he was nearly swept up by the peloton
In a scene not unlike Mr Bean’s Vacation when the eponymous hero gets caught up with the Tour de France, not Lance, but Roger Armstrong was coming off the Horseshoe’s Pass at Llangollen when he was overtaken by some team cars heading the race.
Mr Bean leads out the sprint train
As spectators cheered, waved, clapped and took photos thinking he was a breakaway rider, Armstrong pulled over, realising something was afoot. The 56 year old father of two had forgotten that the race was passing through the area and had set off on a training ride.
He was five minutes ahead of the peloton so, in a moment of, in his own words, “cycling greatness,” he was leading the race for a short while. Speaking to the Daily Express he said, “I had also chosen to ride in my Team GB Olympic kit….I must admit it was nice, if a tad embarrassing to see people clapping. I should have put a sprint on and kept looking over my shoulder.”
Roger Armstrong posted this picture of the stolen bike on facebook
Pictures of Roger posing with his expensive road bike were posted across national as well as local papers and it was after this that his shed was broken into and the £5000 bike stolen. He posted a picture of the S-Works Tarmac Di2 on Facebook with the comment: “Stolen from our shed, they knew what to come for…Gutted.”
North Wales police have requested anyone with information to contact them on 101 quoting reference number U137036.
