Cycling has a reputation problem. Systematic drug abuse has tainted the sport and its image and although the world’s great tours are eagerly awaited events, the drug aspect always looms over them. However, cycling now has a new form of ‘doping’ to contend with, and it isn't drug related.
Secret Motors
The recent advent of mechanical doping, or the use of concealed motors on bicycles, has thrown yet another shadow over the dramatic sport of cycling. The hidden motor may be tough to imagine, but it is real and, as a matter of fact, quite powerful. Istvan Varjas, who is considered to be the inventor of mechanical doping, has stated that they have the capacity to provide riders with a 15 second power burst, allowing them to maintain their advantage. French newspaper Le Monde has investigated Varjas and documented his efforts to sell the product to different companies. He has reportedly signed a deal with one group which prevents him from selling his technology to anyone else for 10 years.
First Evidence of Mechanical Doping
The first cyclist to be caught with an assist device of this sort was Belgian U23 racer Femke van den Driess. Her bicycle was impounded during the 2016 UCI Cyclocross World Championships and after some investigation a concealed motor was discovered under the bottom bracket of her bike. This was of course a serious blow to organizers and audience alike. Driess herself claimed her bike was switched with another and that she had no idea there was a motor concealed in it, but this unfortunately is unlikely.
While mechanical doping is still rare among leading competitive cyclists, according to Varjas it won’t be long before ‘technical fraud’ reaches the top levels. It is disappointing to think that riders and teams who dedicate their lives to this beautiful sport are so desperate for results that they can live with the concept of cheating. Sure, eking every ounce of performance from a bike through engineering and design iterations is science at its best, but adding hidden motors is a truly sad state of affairs.
While mechanical doping is still rare among leading competitive cyclists, according to Varjas it won’t be long before ‘technical fraud’ reaches the top levels. It is disappointing to think that riders and teams who dedicate their lives to this beautiful sport are so desperate for results that they can live with the concept of cheating. Sure, eking every ounce of performance from a bike through engineering and design iterations is science at its best, but adding hidden motors is a truly sad state of affairs.
