When you least expect it, the devil appears – along the roads of the Tour de France.
But the start of this year’s edition was pure hell.
Dieter Senft, or “Didi the Devil” and “El Diablo” as he is known, is a classic feature along the roads of the world’s biggest stage race in cycling.
The 74-year-old German, who was once a competitive cyclist himself, can be seen every summer in his devil costume.
This year’s edition did not get off to the start neither the TV viewers nor Didi had imagined.
Before the team pace in Barcelona, thieves smashed the window of the German’s black van.
“It’s tough”
They say the devil wears Prada, but this time the booty was a cooler bag full of ham and cheese.
A toothbrush, a comb and a speaker also disappeared with the perpetrators.
The 74-year-old was then forced to guard the van and missed the first stage.
“It’s tough here in Barcelona,” he wrote afterwards on Instagram.
After that, things got better. On Wednesday, Senft shared the happy news that the window on the car has been repaired.
The profile has also been seen on the roadside again after the break-in.
The Tour de France is led by Norwegian Torstein Træen. On Thursday, the race continues with a mountain stage where the big favorites Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are expected to make up time in the overall.
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