Motorised Doping

[jesusbuiltmycar]

A concealed motor has been found during examination of Femke Van den Driessche’s bike, during the Cyclocross World Championships, it was revealed today. -

See more at: http://road.cc/content/news/177183-mechanical-dopi...

Makes me wonder how many times pro riders have got away with it?

[yellowjack]

Ah, it's OK.

It wasn't her bike. It was her "friend's" bike. It was all the mechanic's fault for getting them mixed up...

Femke Van den Driessche said:

...It wasn’t my bike, it was that of a friend and was identical to mine. 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...

[ALawson]

She has a banned brother (EPO), as well.

[anonymous-user]

I only have a passing interest in cycling but I find this absolutely fascinating from a technological point of view!

I really want to be shown the components of the system to see how it works, if of course it is what they say it is.

I can't see the advantage though? Sure a battery tiny and light enough to hide in the frame tubes would last about 30 seconds when activated to power the motor and therefore be pretty pointless?

[Celtic Dragon]

I've been watching this unfold over the weekend.

Sad day for the sport, but there hasn't been a statement saying that the bike was in her size. Now that's not to say she didn't cheat however at that level, the rest of the team are complicit.

Apparently the UCI were tipped off that this bike existed and went looking for it.


It's Femke I feel sorry for, she's under 23, and whether by actions of hers or her teams, she's facing a stalled career.

Edited by Celtic Dragon on Sunday 31st January 22:24

[ALawson]

NinjaPower said:

I only have a passing interest in cycling but I find this absolutely fascinating from a technological point of view!

I really want to be shown the components of the system to see how it works, if of course it is what they say it is.

I can't see the advantage though? Sure a battery tiny and light enough to hide in the frame tubes would last about 30 seconds when activated to power the motor and therefore be pretty pointless?

If it adds what 50-100W that will make a massive difference if the rider is pretty good to start with. There is plenty on the internet about the motors and how they work, I think you will be surprised with how long the battery lasts.

You would only need it on punchy climbs or sprints. Certainly will be an interesting story.

[GuinnessMK]

NinjaPower said:

I only have a passing interest in cycling but I find this absolutely fascinating from a technological point of view!

I really want to be shown the components of the system to see how it works, if of course it is what they say it is.

I can't see the advantage though? Sure a battery tiny and light enough to hide in the frame tubes would last about 30 seconds when activated to power the motor and therefore be pretty pointless?

From the reports of "removed the saddle and saw wires in the seat post", most likely a crank drive motor hidden in the frame;



Hiding the battery and switch is probably more difficult.

[Fastpedeller]

NinjaPower said:

I can't see the advantage though? Sure a battery tiny and light enough to hide in the frame tubes would last about 30 seconds when activated to power the motor and therefore be pretty pointless?

Indeed....... Expressed similarly, I'm convinced any advantage would be outweighed (no pun intended) by the effort required to lug the batteries/motor around the course whilst not activated.

[Opel-GT]

http://cyclingtips.com/2015/04/hidden-motors-for-r...

[Mr E]

Fastpedeller said:

NinjaPower said:

I can't see the advantage though? Sure a battery tiny and light enough to hide in the frame tubes would last about 30 seconds when activated to power the motor and therefore be pretty pointless?

Indeed....... Expressed similarly, I'm convinced any advantage would be outweighed (no pun intended) by the effort required to lug the batteries/motor around the course whilst not activated.

I don't know about cyclocross; but uci rules for road racing mean bikes are ballasted up to make the minimum weight. The bikes you buy in the shops are lighter than uci allows.

An addition 50w for 5 minutes would be gold dust for an unscrupulous rider.

[pitboard]

Apparently the big giveaway was the blue smoke and the smell of Castrol R

[Banana Boy]

The saddest thing is that we are talking about these cheats which seems to have totally overshadowed the fact that the inaugural U23 Women's CX World Champ is British girl, Evie Richards!

[Fastpedeller]

Mr E said:

Fastpedeller said:

NinjaPower said:

I can't see the advantage though? Sure a battery tiny and light enough to hide in the frame tubes would last about 30 seconds when activated to power the motor and therefore be pretty pointless?

Indeed....... Expressed similarly, I'm convinced any advantage would be outweighed (no pun intended) by the effort required to lug the batteries/motor around the course whilst not activated.

I don't know about cyclocross; but uci rules for road racing mean bikes are ballasted up to make the minimum weight. The bikes you buy in the shops are lighter than uci allows.

An addition 50w for 5 minutes would be gold dust for an unscrupulous rider.

A good point re minimum weight limit - That changes things considerably.

[mikecassie]

Banana Boy said:

The saddest thing is that we are talking about these cheats which seems to have totally overshadowed the fact that the inaugural U23 Women's CX World Champ is British girl, Evie Richards!

This!! Evie's success has been forgotten in amongst the scandal that's erupting with this cheating. Good on you lass, here's hoping you can replicate this success many times over in the future.

Call me cynical, but I find it hard to believe the sob story that's being given out about it being a friends bike... Is it a bit like all those 'friends' who are mentioned in other threads on Pistonheads...

[lerate]

[quote=Celtic Dragon]I've been watching this unfold over the weekend.

Sad day for the sport, but there hasn't been a statement saying that the bike was in her size. Now that's not to say she didn't cheat however at that level, the rest of the team are complicit.

Apparently the UCI were tipped off that this bike existed and went looking for it.


It's Femke I feel sorry for, she's under 23, and whether by actions of hers or her teams, she's facing a stalled career.

Edited by Celtic Dragon on Sunday 31st January 22:24

[/quot

You do realise she would have to press a button on hers bars to activate the motor? I find it bizarre you feel sorry for her, I feel sorry for the winner who will be forgotten in this

[loudlashadjuster]

lerate said:

You do realise she would have to press a button on hers bars to activate the motor? I find it bizarre you feel sorry for her, I feel sorry for the winner who will be forgotten in this

Why? As I understand it most electric bikes work on an augmentation basis, i.e. they add power (in proportion) when you're pedalling but not at other times.

Where does this lead to, I wonder? Lower UCI weight limit? X-raying of bikes?

Edit: If it was actually working then she'd surely feel its effects though, much as we feel a tailwind I'd assume, so her claims of not knowing about it seem a bit suspect.

Edited by loudlashadjuster on Monday 1st February 10:00

[anonymous-user]

The rider and other team members, if complicit, should get a life ban, it's the only way to clamp down on cheats.

I can't see Xraying bikes being too difficult to implement, it has to be the way forward although I suppose riders will go back to doping?

Well done Evie, us Brits are pretty good on two wheels.

[AyBee]

Can't believe it only carries a 6-month ban! Hardly a deterrent

[louiebaby]

AyBee said:

Can't believe it only carries a 6-month ban! Hardly a deterrent

Especially for a Cyclo-cross rider.

(Although she probably does MTB in the summer.)

[E65Ross]

If the motorboat concealed within the frame then I'm not sure xrays would show much. I know they don't pass through metal, though I have never xrayed something made of carbon.

I do have an xray machine at work.... And I am cycling in tomorrow.....