Did they really think they would get away with using a motor?
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Her situation is not unlike what happened to Lance. If Lance had not tried to come back and beat Contador, he would still be donning his 7 TdF wins. Greed ultimately took him down and long overdue.
What she did was simply beyond the pale. She elected to ride her race bike home when someone caught a picture on their cell of her keeping up on the interstate at 70 mph. She in fact was seen riding next to a guy on Harley. A big no no and a sure give away. Not sure there are any do overs for her but my guess is she won't do that again.
What she did was simply beyond the pale. She elected to ride her race bike home when someone caught a picture on their cell of her keeping up on the interstate at 70 mph. She in fact was seen riding next to a guy on Harley. A big no no and a sure give away. Not sure there are any do overs for her but my guess is she won't do that again.
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Cyclocross is probably the perfect place to use a hidden motor as a cheat. The races are short (women's U23 race is 40 minutes) and you can change bikes. You don't need a large battery, because they will likely be using the bike for only about 15-20 minutes. And with the chaos in the pits, swapping a battery is probably doable. It won't work for all courses, but for some? Definitely something that can give you an edge.
Because of this, I find it perfectly credible that someone would do it. The fact that Van den Driessche's brother is currently suspended for doping doesn't make her look any better.
If you read the UCI rules, the fact that the bike was in her pit means she broke the rules. And the penalty includes a minimum six month suspension of her team as well. In this case, her team is the Belgian federation. Yep. The Belgian federation could end up banned from cyclocross for six months. Chew on that for a minute.
Because of this, I find it perfectly credible that someone would do it. The fact that Van den Driessche's brother is currently suspended for doping doesn't make her look any better.
If you read the UCI rules, the fact that the bike was in her pit means she broke the rules. And the penalty includes a minimum six month suspension of her team as well. In this case, her team is the Belgian federation. Yep. The Belgian federation could end up banned from cyclocross for six months. Chew on that for a minute.
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If you read the UCI rules, the fact that the bike was in her pit means she broke the rules. And the penalty includes a minimum six month suspension of her team as well. In this case, her team is the Belgian federation. Yep. The Belgian federation could end up banned from cyclocross for six months. Chew on that for a minute.
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Of course, otherwise they would not have done it!
However it is really nice technology even elegant, should be able to find it at your local bike shop eventually!
However it is really nice technology even elegant, should be able to find it at your local bike shop eventually!
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The rule talks about the rider's team. In this case the team is Belgium. I'm not sure how it will all play out, because banning Belgium seems impossible. On the other hand, the UCI seems to want to send a strong message on this, and I don't know how you could send a stronger message than that. And the rule does say that it is the team's responsibility to make sure the bikes are not motorized (rather that they don't violate 1.3.010) and the whole rule on this seems very strongly worded. So I think they mean it.
#58
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If the sport were bigger, the photo in this article would have meme after meme
She obviously wasn't aware of the radio-frequency-detecting tablet
Cycling Has Moved From Actual Doping to 'Mechanical Doping'
She obviously wasn't aware of the radio-frequency-detecting tablet
Cycling Has Moved From Actual Doping to 'Mechanical Doping'
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For it to be cheating? Absolutely not.
This is not a "did she use it or not?" thing.
It is completely against UCI rules to even be in possession of a motorized bike at a race.
Adding: This is no different than having a corked up baseball bat. It doesn't matter if you hit a home run with it or not. You're cheating if you bring it to the game with you.
This is not a "did she use it or not?" thing.
It is completely against UCI rules to even be in possession of a motorized bike at a race.
Adding: This is no different than having a corked up baseball bat. It doesn't matter if you hit a home run with it or not. You're cheating if you bring it to the game with you.
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"Sure, I have all this blood from back when my hematocrit number was higher, but I'm just storing it for a friend, I wasn't going to use it! Also, it makes for a really fun halloween decoration"
Well, I guess we have to let him go because we didn't catch him with the needle in his arm. Better luck next time.
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The rule talks about the rider's team. In this case the team is Belgium. I'm not sure how it will all play out, because banning Belgium seems impossible. On the other hand, the UCI seems to want to send a strong message on this, and I don't know how you could send a stronger message than that. And the rule does say that it is the team's responsibility to make sure the bikes are not motorized (rather that they don't violate 1.3.010) and the whole rule on this seems very strongly worded. So I think they mean it.
I have not raced for a long time, but when I used to renew my license on USA cycling, you have to check a box verifying you have read the upcoming year's rules and that you agree to follow them.
#65
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Everyone should show up with a motor on their bikes. I recommend gas powered. Kinda noisy but great kick for that final sprint.
#66
Vain, But Lacking Talent
I mentioned this in another thread, but I have to ask the question here. What is with all the outrage when cheating is cheating? We still like to remember people like Pantini fondly when he was clearly doped to the moon and back. Lance still has his fans, as does Ulrich. And now that we have our first mechanical doping case, we are ready to burn the rider at the stake. Even Merckx (whom I myself idolize) who has a small history with amphetamine positives, is saying mechanical doping deserves a lifetime ban. But hey, if you put a needle in your taint and take some EPO, that's cool, we'll just politely ask you to stay away for a year or so and then we'll gladly take you back in. No problem.
So what gives?
So what gives?
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I know, I was just making it clear that the UCI rules leave no wiggle room on this. They very specifically say the rider is responsible for making sure the bike is in compliance (i.e. my mechanic did it is no excuse) They also make it very clear that the team is responsible for ensuring the team members will not break this rule.
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I mentioned this in another thread, but I have to ask the question here. What is with all the outrage when cheating is cheating? We still like to remember people like Pantini fondly when he was clearly doped to the moon and back. Lance still has his fans, as does Ulrich. And now that we have our first mechanical doping case, we are ready to burn the rider at the stake. Even Merckx (whom I myself idolize) who has a small history with amphetamine positives, is saying mechanical doping deserves a lifetime ban. But hey, if you put a needle in your taint and take some EPO, that's cool, we'll just politely ask you to stay away for a year or so and then we'll gladly take you back in. No problem.
So what gives?
So what gives?
I think people are more willing to give EPO/whatever biological dopers a pass after they've served their bans because they assume everyone else is doing it too, and they're still pushing the pedals after training their butts off.
This is just so much more blatant because it's literally powering the bike with a battery rather than just some doped-out legs.
I'm not saying the penalty should be any more harsh than what an EPO user gets, but it does "feel" more unfair than bio-doping. Unfortunately we're all super-desensitized to biodoping positive results now, and so many people have come back from suspensions and picked up where they left off, but this motor thing is entirely new territory.
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For it to be cheating? Absolutely not.
This is not a "did she use it or not?" thing.
It is completely against UCI rules to even be in possession of a motorized bike at a race.
Adding: This is no different than having a corked up baseball bat. It doesn't matter if you hit a home run with it or not. You're cheating if you bring it to the game with you.
This is not a "did she use it or not?" thing.
It is completely against UCI rules to even be in possession of a motorized bike at a race.
Adding: This is no different than having a corked up baseball bat. It doesn't matter if you hit a home run with it or not. You're cheating if you bring it to the game with you.
If it was not functional, then I would not consider it cheating, just dead weight she was carrying around with her in a did-not-finish race.
One should, of course, try to figure out if that bike was used in other races that she did actually finish in.
As far as the corked bat analogy. If the batter leaves the bat in the rack and never swings it at a ball, then it is hard to call it cheating. And, I could care less which bat he warms up with, or practices with.
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GATC
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I have no respect for current or former doper of any variety, but I get your point.
I think people are more willing to give EPO/whatever biological dopers a pass after they've served their bans because they assume everyone else is doing it too, and they're still pushing the pedals after training their butts off.
This is just so much more blatant because it's literally powering the bike with a battery rather than just some doped-out legs.
I'm not saying the penalty should be any more harsh than what an EPO user gets, but it does "feel" more unfair than bio-doping. Unfortunately we're all super-desensitized to biodoping positive results now, and so many people have come back from suspensions and picked up where they left off, but this motor thing is entirely new territory.
I think people are more willing to give EPO/whatever biological dopers a pass after they've served their bans because they assume everyone else is doing it too, and they're still pushing the pedals after training their butts off.
This is just so much more blatant because it's literally powering the bike with a battery rather than just some doped-out legs.
I'm not saying the penalty should be any more harsh than what an EPO user gets, but it does "feel" more unfair than bio-doping. Unfortunately we're all super-desensitized to biodoping positive results now, and so many people have come back from suspensions and picked up where they left off, but this motor thing is entirely new territory.
Pull the plug to the motor and the person may actually be worse off than if they hadn't used the the motor (lack of training).
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I heard of this guy in the 1970's that was doing mechanical doping. He was in his 30's. He eventually got his GF to join him.
His name was Steve Austin.
GH
His name was Steve Austin.
GH
#73
Vain, But Lacking Talent
The problem is that there are several conflicting pieces of information out there. All the way from the crank locking up and her walking the bike in to the bike never actually got ridden in the race. Too much high speed "get the scoop" journalism working with multiple 2nd and 3rd hand sources to make any sense of anything.
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I remember someone posting a thread some months ago showing a bike with a motor in the seat tube/BB area but I didn't think anyone would actually try to get away with using one. Makes me wonder if it's happened before and this person was just the one to get caught.
'Technological fraud' discovered at Zolder cyclocross worlds - VeloNews.com
'Technological fraud' discovered at Zolder cyclocross worlds - VeloNews.com
Guess they've never read the Bicycle Mechanics sub-forum...
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Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
#75
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I recall Lance having some pretty harsh words for those doping cheaters, too. It's a case of 'as long as it's not me, ban 'em for life!'