Professional cyclists caught using tiny motors
An investigation by French TV programme Stade 2 and Corriere della Sera, an Italian newspaper, claims that tiny motors are used by professional cyclists in road races.
The investigation made use of thermal detectors, which the investigators believe uncovered hidden motors in two Italian cycling road races.
“Their findings released Sunday show what is believed to be seven different motors being used by riders, five in the seat tube and two in the mechanics of the back wheel,” RT reported.
The alleged cheating riders’ names have not been released, but the prevalence of “mechanical doping” is not new.
The International Cycling Union said in January that, pursuant to the UCI’s regulations on technological fraud, a bike had been detained for further investigation.
This followed checks at the women’s under-23 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships race.
While the incident did not involve any of the riders on the podium, it showed that “technological fraud” occurs at the highest level of the sport.
Thermal detector images showing tiny motors
The thermal images below, from Stade 2, show the suspected tiny motors being used in the bikes.
Stade 2 investigation
The full Stade 2 investigation video is provided below. (French version only).
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