Cycling Pro Alexander Richardson Attacked For Bike In Richmond Park

Professional cyclist Alexander Richardson has been left bloodied after a masked machete-wielding motorcycle gang robbed him of his £6,000 bike in Richmond Park.

The four robbers rammed into the 31 year-old, who rides for UCI ProTeam Alpecin-Fenix, at nearly 40 mph and dragged him along the ground for 100 metres, injuring his leg.

The former stockbroker, who competed in last month’s Tour of Britain, shared a photo of his bloodied leg with his Instagram followers and details of his ordeal.

He had just finished training on his Canyon racing bike at around 3pm in the south-west London park when the robbers targeted him.

“Pretty shocking experience today in Richmond Park,” Richardson wrote yesterday. “Was finishing my training around 3pm when two motorbikes with four men and balaclavas started following me.

“I knew exactly they wanted to take my bike and started to think what the best thing I could so was.”

The sprint specialist tried to reach the safety of a local cafe, but was no match for the motorbikes, one of which deliberately crashed into him at nearly 40mph.

“I turned around at East Sheen roundabout and started riding full speed to the cafe about 500 metres away.

“They simply rode one of the motorbikes into me at 60kph.

“I came off the bike and the first motorbike lost control. I held onto my bike, however the second motorbike then dragged me and the bike along the floor for another 100 metres.

“After this they pulled out a 15 inch machete at which point I thought better and let the bike go.

“I’m pretty cut up and bruised with a swollen hip, but tomorrow is another day.

“Please be careful in the area and note this is becoming a common occurrence in parts of London.

“The police have taken their notes down as armed robbery and hopefully the criminals are found.

“Please raise awareness. At least I got most of the ride in even if no file to show for it!

“Once again the wife to the rescue to pick me up.”

Richardson only started cycling seriously in his mid-twenties and took the bold move to turn his back on a successful career as a stockbroker to follow his dream in the professional ranks.

He shook up the cycling world when as an unsponsored rider and with no team support he won the 2018 Lincoln Grand Prix, leading to professional contracts with Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes and now Alpecin-Fenix.

Richardson has two more wins on his cycling palmares, the Arno Wallaard Memorial in the Netherlands and and a stage of the Tour de la Mirabelle in France.