Bike Ping
I am completely blown away (and disappointed). I thought this was science fiction!
"I never thought that such schemes were possible. It's a scandal that Femke's entourage have deceived the Belgian federation," he said.
The news is a fresh blow to a sport still recovering from the Lance Armstrong doping scandal after the disgraced American cyclist admitted to cheating throughout his career in 2013 following years of denials and ruthless attacks on his accusers, AFP noted.
The UCI has been taking the possibility of technological fraud more seriously over the past few years. New penalties include disqualification, a suspension of six months, and a fine of up to 200,000 Swiss francs (about $195,000). Teams could be fined 1 million francs (roughly $977,500).
If there’s a way to cheat in anything, people will do it.
I’d think that bike doping would make the bike heavier. Do they ever weigh them prior to racing events?
Shocking.
I am completely blown away (and disappointed). I thought this was science fiction!
I read about this years ago. It has been going on a long time. Batteries are a lot stronger now, can last longer.
In before pictures of Democrat Politicians on bicycles.
Why not sponsor a special event for cheaters?
There was a lot of film of bicyclists being pulled off their bikes in complete exhaustion having to get massages, rest, and huge amounts of food (mostly pasta) to get ready for the next day's events.
Now it seems that after every race the bicyclists just pop off their bikes and pop down to the nearest Starbucks for a Cafe Latte. Something's wrong with the picture.
“It wasn’t my bike — it was that of a friend and was identical to mine,” a tearful Van den Driessche told Sporza, AFP reported. “This friend went around the course Saturday before dropping off the bike in the truck. A mechanic, thinking it was my bike, cleaned it and prepared it for my race,” she added, insisting that she was “totally unaware” it was fitted with a hidden motor.”
Very convincing, like when Sammy Sosa’s corked bat broke during a game and his excuse was that it was a “practice bat”.
‘First incidence’? I recall a similar scheme a decade, or so, ago, though maybe a different race. The problem is that ounces (grams?) on the bicycle cost a lot in any race. The question becomes: “can you bring along more energy than you expend carrying it and the motor along the whole race? In a long race, I doubt it.
Free Republic always has something new and interesting to learn. I have followed Pro Cycling for years and never heard of mechanical cheating.
Femke Van den Driessche should do want Lance did: pay the UCI guardians $100,000 every year.
Mechanical gears inside the frame? Sweet. I want one. Just kidding, kind of.