The Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish was assaulted by intruders during a targeted burglary days after he returned home from intensive care after suffering serious injuries in a bike crash.
Cavendish said that he, his wife, Peta, and his young children were left “extremely distressed” after they were threatened at knifepoint when masked burglars ransacked their home in the Ongar area of Essex.
Cavendish, the TeamGB star who has won 34 Tour de France stages, said in a statement that his children feared for their lives and were “now struggling with the after-effects”.
“No one should have to experience the sort of violence and threats made against us, let alone this happening in a family home — a place where everyone should feel safe.”
No one was seriously injured in the burglary, in which four armed men entered the property in the early hours of the morning on November 27.
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Cavendish had only just returned home from intensive care after he suffered a collapsed lung and two broken ribs in a crash during a track event in Ghent, Belgium, six days earlier.
Essex police said the burglary was clearly targeted and the gang stole a Louis Vuitton suitcase and two high-value watches.
Detective Inspector Tony Atkin, the senior investigating officer, said: “Mr Cavendish and his wife were assaulted and threatened in their own home, in the presence of their young children, who witnessed these events. Thankfully, they are recovering, but the traumatic effect will be long-standing.
“Today, we are releasing images of the people captured on CCTV fleeing the scene and we would urge anyone who recognises them to get in contact with us immediately. We are also releasing images of the suitcase and two watches which were stolen during the incident.
“It is likely the people who stole these items are attempting to offload them for sizable sums of money and I would urge anyone who is being offered these items to please get in touch with us. They are stolen property.
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“If you have been offered these items, please contact us immediately.”
Cavendish said that the items taken were material goods “and our priority at the moment is to make sure we all recover from the incident as a family, and we know this is likely to take some time”.
He added on Twitter that the watches were of great sentiment and value “but far far worse to be taken was the sense of security, safety, privacy and dignity that my young family and everybody else is entitled to in their own home”.
He said the effect on his family was “heartbreakingly evident” and asked anyone with information to come forward. No arrests have been made.
Cavendish’s wife, Peta Todd, a former glamour model, issued the same statement as Cavendish on social media, detailing the “nightmare” incident and how the family were asleep when the burglars forced their way in.
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Replying on Instagram, Sir Chris Hoy wrote: “So sorry to hear this.”
Cavendish and Todd have three young children, while Todd has another child from a previous relationship.
Anyone who was in the Ongar area between 2am and 2.40am on 27 November and saw anybody acting suspiciously, or has any other information for detectives, can contact Loughton CID on 101 quoting reference 42/275184/21.
