Professional cyclist Zakk Patterson, of Cambridge, was taking part in the National Criterium Championships in Invercargill at the weekend.
After Saturday’s race, he and two other professional cyclists decided to grab a bite to eat at a kebab shop in Tay St.
They were enjoying their food when Patterson noticed a man jump on his $15,000 road bike and begin riding away.
Patterson chased the man by foot while his two riding companions, in a "spur of moment" decision, mounted their bikes and gave chase.
"We just threw our food down and started chasing him.
"We all kind of got up simultaneously and just sprinted off after him — he didn’t get too far before they — my mates — tackled him."
While the situation was completely surreal to him, he was confident he would not lose his bike.
"You see something getting stolen of high value that means a lot to you, you don’t really want to let someone get away with it.
"We weren’t really thinking about the consequences at the time, but we did have him outnumbered, so that was to our advantage."
The stolen bike sustained a broken rear spoke in the wheel and some cosmetic wear but was otherwise in great condition, he said.
Patterson and his team were still able to compete in the Gore-to-Invercargill Classic the following day, finishing fourth.
"I don’t know what he did, but he made it go faster."
— Keanu Teiwakau Papatua, 31, appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to the theft of the bicycle.
Judge Russell Walker said he didn’t know what possessed Papatua to take the $15,000 road bike as the dishonest behaviour was "not in line" with his previous offending.
In November, Papatua was sentenced for unrelated drug charges, possessing a samurai sword in public, resisting arrest and failing to stop for police — all while riding a bicycle.
Judge Walker sentenced Papatua to 60 hours’ community work and added another 60 hours for outstanding fines.
