Subham Poddar
In a significant move to combat the use of hidden motors in professional cycling, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has announced it will offer financial rewards to whistleblowers who provide evidence of such cheating at the Tour de France and other major races. Hidden motors and advanced electromagnetic wheels, which can cost up to £200,000, have long been suspected in the sport.
David Lappartient, president of the UCI, alongside Nick Raudenski, a former US Homeland Security investigator now leading the UCI’s technological fraud efforts, is intensifying the crackdown on these deceptive practices.
“We will pay for credible information,” Lappartient stated. “This demonstrates our serious commitment to tackling this issue.”
Lappartient emphasized the damaging impact technological fraud could have on the sport and the UCI itself if left unaddressed. He highlighted the importance of investing in advanced detection technologies and thorough investigations, given the increasing sophistication and miniaturization of hidden motors.
The first major incident of motor doping was uncovered in 2016 at the world cyclo-cross championships when Femke Van den Driessche was caught using a hidden motor. Since then, there has been a rise in amateur race organizers discovering riders with concealed motors.
Lappartient criticized the current tablet screening process for its inconsistency and vulnerability to circumvention. “While it’s a step forward, it’s not foolproof,” he said.
Suspicions about motor use among top riders have persisted for years. “We regained credibility after the Armstrong era,” Lappartient remarked. “But another scandal involving motor doping could devastate our sport.”
Suspicious bike changes during critical moments in major races, including the Tour de France, have raised alarms. Lappartient stressed the need for a secure process to ensure the bike tested at the finish is the same one used throughout the race.
Raudenski, with his extensive background in criminal investigation, aims to bolster the UCI’s efforts to eliminate technological fraud. “Cheaters are constantly evolving,” he explained. “It’s a perpetual cat-and-mouse game, and we must stay ahead of their tactics.”
The UCI has recently implemented measures to enhance bike inspections. A commissaire will now check all bikes at the start of each Tour stage using magnetic tablets. Post-race inspections, employing X-ray technology and other tools, will be conducted on bikes used by stage winners, classification leaders, randomly selected riders, and any rider who arouses suspicion. If necessary, bikes will be dismantled for further examination.
