New bike found for robbed cyclist

Edward Genochio was robbed while he was asleep

A cyclist whose custom-built bike was stolen by a Mongolian horseman while en route to China is to receive a new one.

Bicycle manufacturer Marin and London bike shop Condor are to provide a replacement bike to Edward Genochio so he can complete his epic journey.

Mr Genochio, 27, from Exeter, has cycled about 16,000 km (10,000 miles) since leaving his home five months ago.

But he has been stranded in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator since the theft on Saturday night.

The freelance website designer was asleep at the time of the theft, with his bike locked to his tent.

Unfortunately the bike has been quite badly beaten up in the process of being dragged behind the horse Edward Genochio

The thief tied a rope to his bicycle and rode off with it, destroying the tent at the same time.

Mr Genochio said it was "tremendous news" the custom-made bike was going to be replaced.

He said the stolen bike had been recovered by police, but it was ruined.

"I had a call from the police and they said they had found the bike and I went to identify it.

"Unfortunately it has been quite badly beaten up in the process of being dragged behind the horse."

Greg Needham, manager of Condor, said: "I was lying in bed listening to the radio and heard the story about a man who'd had his bike stolen in Mongolia, and I was wondering how we could help him.

"We then spoke to Edward and arranged it all."

Mr Needham said that although he would like to cycle the bike out to Mongolia himself, they would arrange with a courier to get the bike out to Mr Genochio.

Mr Genochio had been waiting in Ulan Bator for a Chinese visa so that he could finish his 12,000-mile journey to Shanghai through the Gobi Desert.