"Thieves climbed onto our garage and then onto the roof of the house" – Lidl-Trek rider’s home ransacked as he enjoyed romantic holiday with girlfriend

Lidl-Trek rider Otto Vergaerde has spoken out after his home in Melle, Belgium was burglarised while he was on holiday in Spain with his girlfriend, with thieves breaking in via the roof and stealing jewellery and watches.

The 31-year-old Belgian had only just arrived for his break when the shocking news reached him. “Not exactly enjoyable, of course,” Vergaerde admitted in comments to Het Nieuwsblad.

Burglars targeted his property over the weekend, taking advantage of the experienced World Tour pro being out of town, snatching specific valuables from Vergaerde's home, but somewhat curiously leaving other items untouched — behaviour even the Belgian himself found unusual. “I actually find it strange," he explained. "They left behind plenty of things — like a television and paintings. They were only interested in jewellery and watches,” Vergaerde clarified.

It was Vergaerde’s father, who regularly visits to feed the chickens, who noticed the break-in and alerted him. Initially, the method of entry was unclear.

Vergaerde, who rode notable races such as Paris-Nice, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour de Suisse for Lidl-Trek in 2025, says police quickly pieced together how the burglars entered his home. “They discovered that the thieves had climbed onto our garage and then onto the roof of the house. In the end, they got in through a Velux window.”

The thieves even disabled a motion-sensor security light — though they still left traces behind. “They left a lot of footprints and dirt in the house.”

With police investigating, the Belgian has appealed to local residents for information. “If anyone noticed anything or also experienced a suspicious situation over the weekend, they should contact the local police.”

A gutted Vergaerde continues his holiday abroad, hoping for answers as the investigation progresses. More information from police is expected in the coming days.