Steroids aren’t the only way pro cyclists have tried to gain an illegal competitve advantage.
Belgian cyclist Femke Van den Driessche had her bike seized by cycling authorities after it was discovered she used a concealed motor to help her during the world cyclo-cross championships.
There’s been rumours of motor cheating among cyclists for years, as the International Cycling Union has scanned bikes at major competitions, like the Tour De France, in hopes of preventing cheating.
“Technological fraud is unacceptable,” International Cycling Union president Brian Cookson told Sky News.
“We want the minority who may consider cheating to know that, increasingly there is no place to hide, and sooner or later they will pay for the damage they’re causing to our sport.”
Van den Driessche, a title favorite, reportedly had her bike tested after one lap, and the discovery that she was using a motorized component is believed to be the first time a cyclist was caught. As Deadspin notes, officials came up empty when looking at Alberto Contador and Ryder Hesjedal’s bikes during last year’s Giro d’Italia.
Van den Driessche basically admitted she had ‘a very big problem’ but said she would ‘never cheat.’
“It’s not fun when you are accused of something. But I would never cheat. I really like cycling and I love my sport, but I realise that I now have a very big problem,” she said.
A big problem indeed. She faces a 20,000 ($19,500) to 200,000 ($195,000) Swiss francs fine, and will face a minimum six-month suspension.
