Cycling: Shanks' bike stolen

World champion cyclist Alison Shanks' bike has been stolen.

The bike, worth more than $15,000, was taken from Bike NZ's stall at an outdoor adventure expo in Christchurch early last Friday during the set-up for the event..

The Dunedin rider, who won the individual pursuit title at the track world championships in Poland in March, said the bike was the only one she had for racing.

"We've got our national camp coming up in a week and I don't have a bike," Shanks told The Press newspaper.

Shanks said the bike would be useless for the average cyclist because it was designed for the track and specifically for her.

BikeNZ high performance director Mark Elliott said the loss comes at a critical time for Shanks, with the UCI World Cup season only five weeks away and BikeNZ holding its first major training camp in Invercargill next week.

"Equipment like this is so specific for the rider, so it's very disappointing," Elliott said.

"The bike is completely useless for anyone else. It is a purpose built track bike and made specifically for Alison.

"It's not as if anyone can sell it or use it. And the handlebars are also manufactured just for her - they are irreplaceable."

Elliott said New Zealand boasts world-leading track bike designers and hoped the products could always be displayed, safely, to the public.

"It is very important equipment and here's hoping whoever took it has the sense to just drop it back at a bike shop in the city."

- NZPA