Cycling authorities have finally caught a unicorn.
A Belgian cyclist is facing the end of her short career after
she was caught riding a motorised bicycle in the world cyclo-cross championship
in Zolder, Belgium.
"It's absolutely clear that there was technological
fraud," Bryan Cookson, the President of the International Cycling Union
(UCI), said.
"There was a concealed motor. I don't think there are
any secrets about that."
Known as "bike doping", hidden motors have been
little more than a rumour. Pro cyclists were laughing at the suggestion just
six months ago after a video emerged of an official at the Giro d’Italia
checking eventual race winner Alberto Contador’s bike very thoroughly, even
removing the cranks.
Pro cyclists have since been subjected to being whipped off
immediately after crossing the finish line to have the bikes inspected "as
part of an ongoing effort to root out what has, thus far, proven to be a
unicorn of a rule violation — a bike that powers itself,” VeloNews reported in
July last year.
"Though the technology does exist, few pros seem to
think it feasible."
But now, the practice can't be denied and the world of pro
cycling has a whole new headache.
Teenager Femke Van den Driessche was in tears after the race,
and is claiming she was unaware the bike had a tiny motor; that it was given to
her accidentally by a mechanic.
But whether she will have to serve a ban is not the main
issue. The point is, "bike doping" can be done, and cannot be denied
any longer.
No comments:
Post a Comment