Nicolas Roche's custom-made road bike, which he got after retiring from the pro peloton, has been lost after a flight he had checked on for in the UK was cancelled at the last moment. The four-time Olympian had just checked in his bike bag - and other luggage - and was making his way through Gatwick airport to catch his plane when he was informed the flight was cancelled.
The cancellation of the EasyJet flight to Nice meant he and other intending passengers were stopped before they went through security and went airside. However, his bags had gone ahead and now 10 days later he has no update on his bike despite repeated efforts to locate it and secure its return.
The bike is one with sentimental value as it was custom made for him by Fifty One - the bike company owned by former international road cyclist Aidan Duff. Apart from the geometry of the bike being made to his specifications, the paint job is also a nod to the history of Roche's career.
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His four wins in the Irish road championships - road race in 2009 and 2016 and TT in 2007 and 2016) - as well as his four appearances in the Olympics and winning two Vuelta stages all feature on the distinctive bike's seat-tube and top-tube.
Roche was in the UK the week before last working for a day and traveling with his road bike for a corporate job when the bike was lost. Once his appointment was completed his plan was to jump on a plane back to Nice last Thursday week and be at home in Monaco to carry out further working appointments with Swiss brand Assos.
"I checked in the bag, and then went to the oversized luggage area to give in the bike bag and they accepted it. Of course that system is all automated but it took the bags," he said, adding he and other Nice-bound passengers were only informed a short time later their flight was cancelled.
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With his bags airside and Roche still landside, he then faced a lengthy wait in Gatwick at the customer service area trying to find out more information about how he might retrieve his bags. After having no success there, he quickly tried to put in place plans to make it back to Nice that night so he would could meet his work obligations in coming days.
However, as so many flights were cancelled, all available options were booked up, including traveling through the channel tunnel, which he tried to do by catching a train into central London. He eventually went back to Gatwick, where he the hotel he had booked online was full because of the number of cancelled flights.
While he eventually made it back home to Monaco after 24 hours of chaos, he said EasyJet has still made no progress with finding his bike bag and another bag inside it containing clothes and his cycling kit.
Roche said he has since had calls from the airline inquiring how he got home as he did not make a further booking with them. He added a staff member he spoke to wanted to close his query on the basis it was Nice airport's responsibility to locate the bag as his flight was to Nice.
"But this was despite the flight being cancelled and never leaving London," he said. "So I kicked up about that and the guy (from EasyJet) agreed to keep my file open. Normally I'd have (tracking) tags in my bag but this time, because I was making a very quick visit and the travel arrangements were going to be tight, I traveled with smaller luggage to make things faster. So I hadn't put the tag into the new bag."
Roche added he was convinced his bike was still in Gatwick Airport. However, 10 days after his flight was cancelled as his bag was entering the luggage system at the airport he has received no news on the location of the bike and his other luggage.
"It's either in the airport or someone has nicked it, which is always a possibility with these things I guess," he said. "But so far all they have told me is they have no news."
