What was supposed to be an opportunity to combine passion and work turned into a bad experience for Shimano manager Joost Hoetelmans. On Friday, unknown perpetrators struck in front of the "J Hotel", on the border between Turin and Venaria Reale.

The manager and his colleague Bert Roesems were visiting some teams staying at the hotel ahead of the Vuelta's start: "They broke the car window parked in front of the hotel and took everything I had! My Pinarello Dogma F12, a backpack with passport, bank card, credit cards, driver's license, Insta360 camera, insurance policy. And then another suitcase with all my clothes and 3 pairs of shoes, a smaller suitcase with all my Garmin cycling equipment, and finally Bert's suitcase with his clothes, watches, iPad, etc." Hoetelmans wrote on his Instagram profile.

A blow causing over 15,000 euros in damages, a Vuelta that started badly...