13 racing bikes stolen, recovered, prior to Exergy Tour in Boise

An entire trailer full of racing bicycles were stolen in Boise on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning in advance of the women’s Exergy Tour stage bike race that starts today.

Amazingly, all 13 bicycles, valued at more than $70,000 were recovered in and around the Boise State University campus by 2 p.m. yesterday

The prologue starts at 6:30 p.m. today at Julia Davis Park, which should give members of the TIBCO cycling team a chance to get their wheels to the starting line.

Watch the Exergy Tour live on TourTracker.

The whole episode is reminiscent of the Lance Armstrong stolen bicycle fiasco that opened the Amgen Tour of California in 2009.

Boise police reported the theft on Wednesday when members of the cycling team discovered that someone had cut the lock on the trailer and stole the bikes from inside.

With such an easy haul, the thieves must have been slow to realize that it might be difficult to fence 13 expensive red and white or black and white Specialized bikes with the TIBCO team name prominently stenciled on them.

Later, police said they were notified by a citizen tipster that bikes matching the description were on the BSU campus. Police went to the location and found six of the stolen bikes locked to a bike rack.

Police searching the area nearby found the remaining seven bicycles.

The women on the TIBCO team are among the 16 cycling teams competing in the inaugural Exergy Tour — a stage race through runs through Monday across Idaho.

The race is drawing plenty of national attention, as it boasts a $100,000 purse and is considered a qualifier for the Olympics in London.

We’re hoping that women’s cycling is a big hit in Idaho and continues for many years to come.