For some years now, there has been speculation that the last frontier of doping in cycling is not in medicine, but in technology. In January 2016, the UCI sanctioned Belgian cyclist Femke Van den Driessche after proving that she used a bicycle with a hidden motor during one of the races at the Women's Cyclocross World Championship in the Under-23 category.
Technological doping in cycling: a growing threat
Since then, the International Cycling Union has intensified its efforts to detect this type of fraud, both in professional competitions and in amateur races. The surprising thing is that the second confirmed case of technological doping did not occur in the elite, but in a carrera amateur event in France. An amateur cyclist was detained in the middle of a competition in Aquitaine after being investigated for abnormal results. During his statement, he admitted to having used a bicycle with a hidden motor in at least five races since August 21, earning €500 in prizes.
This case has raised concerns in the French Cycling Federation, which has requested the Ministry of Sports and the UCI to develop a specific plan to fight technological fraud, both in road cycling events and in mountain bike events.
How do bicycles with hidden motors work?
The detained cyclist used a system in which the motor was hidden in the bottom bracket, while the battery was camouflaged in the frame's bottle cage. This type of technology is accessible and there are electric kits on the market that can be installed on practically any road bike or mountain bike, providing pedal assistance without being easily detectable at first glance. During the latest edition of the Unibike fair, it was shown how these systems work, with a battery discreetly housed in the seat tube and a motor integrated into the bottom bracket.
A problem that can affect all cycling disciplines
Technological fraud not only affects road races, but also disciplines such as mountain biking , where a hidden motor could make a big difference on technical climbs or highly demanding terrain. For this reason, national federations have begun to intensify controls, fearing that this type of cheating could spread to different competitions.
The fight against technological doping is a challenge for cycling authorities, as technology is advancing rapidly and hidden motors are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The UCI and the national federations face the challenge of ensuring fairness in competitions and preserving the essence of physical effort in this sport.