Juanmi Mercado, winner of two Tour stages, suspected of being part of a criminal gang

The former cyclist, winner of stages in the Tour and Tour, will be part of a band that has committed at least 16 robberies since last December

The former professional cyclist Juanmi Mercado, winner of stages in both the Tour de France and the Cycling Tour of Spain, is investigated for allegedly being part of a criminal gang dismantled by the Civil Guard after having committed at least 16 robberies with force between December 2019 and February 2020.

The Civil Guard announced last Tuesday the dismantling of this band within the framework of the Operation Zeletasuna, which resulted in the arrest of three people, between 23 and 33 years, and the investigation of a fourth person, all with criminal records.

In this last case it will be the professional expert Juanmi Mercado, 41 years old, according to some media and have confirmed to Efe sources of the investigation, which was winner of two stages in the Tour de France, in 2004 and 2006, and one in the Tour of Spain of 2001.

Trajectory

The athlete from Granada, who left professional sport in 2007, ran for ten years in the teams Vitalicio Seguros, iBanesto.com, Quick Step, Agritubel, finishing fifth in the general of the Vuelta a Espana in 2001.

The criminal gang of which the former cyclist is allegedly part of is accused of committing 16 robberies in recent months in different locations in the Granada metropolitan area with a button higher than 120,000 euros. These robberies include the two carried out in less than a month in a bicycle shop, with losses valued at more than 68,000 euros.

The detainees they always acted by force, without hesitation in making a butrn in some wall of the establishment if they failed to force the door or other access.

During the investigation phase, the agents made two house searches in which many of the stolen objects were recovered, including two motorcycles and different sports equipment. In addition, the Civil Guard indicated that it keeps the investigation open in case detainees and investigated have participated in more robberies.