The Flying Dutchman

Here's an interesting tidbit about the Tour prologue that I ran across on the T-Mobile team website. I guess when you get that many people together for a single event, something like this is bound to happen. Thank goodness for people like Bert Tolhoek, bus driver turned Bobbie.

You're Nicked
"While the Tour caravan has been generous in showering roadside fans in Britain with gifts, one particular punter took things a bit too far on Friday afternoon. While the team was on a training spin, Bert Tolhoek the T-Mobile Team bus driver was left to look after things in a quiet suburb. A young passer-by expressed an interest in Kim Kirchen’s time trial bike, parked just outside. “Is that yours?” he asked, his interest visibly growing.

Very soon the temptation became too great and the opportunist made a grab for the bike. The young man took off at time trial speed. Bert had to react fast and chasing in the team bus was not the answer. The team doctors looked after the bus, while Dutchman Bert commandeered the next passing car, cop-show style. A bemused woman in her thirties obliged. The hot pursuit was on. It wasn’t long before the young pretender ran into real difficulties shifting gears and controlling this highly specialist piece of equipment on a steep section of road, allowing Bert to close the gap.

Realising the game was up, the hapless thief tried to abandon the 7,000 Euro bike and make a run for it. But as he fell from the heightened saddle, Bert pinned him to the ground and held him there in a headlock. Ignoring the youngster’s pleas for clemency Bert threatened to call the police. Luckily for the culprit, Bert's bus-driving duties called and the young man got off with a heavy warning!" (gl)

Way to go, Bert!!! Kirchen finished 53rd on Saturday, 0.48 seconds back from Fabian Cancellara (CSC).