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Cyclo-Cross World Championship Contestant Found with Motor in Her Bicycle

As long as sports exist, there will always be those for whom victory is more important than the means by which it is acquired. You might know them by their other name: cheats.
Femke Van den Driessche 1 photo
Photo: Screenshot from YouTube
It’s happening to a certain degree in all sports (even curling?), but one that has recently been in the spotlight is cycling. That’s down to a certain individual called Lance Armstrong, the US multi-champion who was found guilty of doping and had his titles revoked in an unprecedented move. The public’s opinion on the matter was split, but in essence, everyone agrees that doping is bad.

Not long ago, doping meant that the sportsman or sportswoman would consume some sort of illegal substances that improved their physical abilities, thus gaining an edge over their opponents. Blood and urine test were conducted at random before and after the competitions in order to identify those who thought fair play was for losers.

Recently, though, a new type of cheating has begun to spread in the cycling world, and it’s called “motorized doping.” The name says it all, really - the cyclists have electric motors installed on their bikes that help them to an extent during the more gruesome stages of a competition, when even the slightest impulse can have an important contribution.

The latest case was just discovered and confirmed by UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) following the under 23 women’s race on Saturday at the cyclo-cross World Championships. A rider called Femke Van den Driessche of Team Kleur op Maat was found with a motor inside her bike, raising suspicions of “technological fraud.”

UCI President Brian Cookson has confirmed the finding, but Van den Driessche denies she is involved in any sort of motorized doping. She doesn’t deny the existence of the motor (that would be like saying the Earth is flat), but says she had no idea of its presence and that the bike wasn’t hers. Speaking to Sporza and quoted by Cycling News, the 19-year-old said, “I didn’t know anything about it. I don’t know how that bike got there. I was surprised to see that bike standing there. It’s not my bike. There’s been a mistake. There was nothing in the bike that I used at the start of the race. I train hard for it too, you know. Then it’s no fun to be accused like this.

Faced with a six-month ban and a fine of at least 20,000 CHF (about $19,500), all she had to say between the tears was “I hope they see the truth.”

Brian Cookson is adamant that those who attempt this type of cheating should expect a similar outcome. Last year saw the introduction of a clear set of regulations on this matter, and now they possess the legislative frame on which to take action against those found in the wrong. And they have the means to do it: “We’ve been trialing new methods of detection, but you’ll understand why I don’t want to go into details of those methods.”

Van den Driessche entered the race as one of the main favorites, but now she is waiting for a final decision in her case. Whatever that will be, she is still going down in the books as the first rider discovered to be using a hidden motor. Not exactly the kind of accolade you want to receive this early in your career.
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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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