Elite cyclists participating in the New Zealand National Criterium Championships on Saturday turned into superheroes, chasing down and stopping a bike thief in his tracks, according to Invercargill police.

While enjoying a bite to eat after racing in the championships, two riders spotted a thief riding off on teammate Zakk Patterson’s $15K road racing machine. His Quality Food Services Southland teammates, former pros, quickly sprinted outside, jumped on their bikes and started off in hot pursuit.

The bicycle bandit never had a chance.

In less than a kilometer the bandit was out of breath and exhausted, while the elite cyclists had not even broken a sweat.

The cyclists stopped the thief, turned him over to police and recovered Patterson’s bike without incident.

Police Sergeant Geoff Sutherland praised the cyclist’s quick response: “The alleged offender didn’t stand a chance. The cyclists closed in on him within three blocks, effectively sandwiching him and bringing the pursuit to a swift end.”

On Sunday the bicycle bandit, 31 year-old Keanu Teiwakau, pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to 60 hours of community service by an Invercargill District Court judge.

Patterson, on the other hand, lined up to start the Gore-to-Invercargill Classic road race, where he finished fourth. Commenting to the Otago Daily Times,”I don’t know what [Teiwakau] did, but he made [the bike] go faster.”

Photo Credit: Facebook/zakk.patterson

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