BRUSSELS — The UCI is investigating a case of mechanical fraud at the cyclo cross world championships in the first official case of “bike doping” at such a high level.
International Cycling Union off-road manager Peter Van Den Abeele said his control commissioners noticed a suspicious bike during the women’s under-23 race on Saturday and immediately tested it for fraudulent use of technology to artificially increase speed.
According to UCI president Brian Cookson, the organization found a hidden motor that provided extra speed on the bike of 19-year-old cyclist Femke van den Driessche, from Belgium.
“Now we will look further into this case. For the UCI, it is the first time that we see such technological fraud. It is a setback for us,” Van Den Abeele told VRT network.
According to Business Insider, Van den Driessche denied it was her bike, saying a team mechanic gave it to her by mistake.
“I feel really terrible,” she told Beligan TV channel Sporza. “I’m aware I have a big problem. [But] I have no fears of an inquiry into this. I have done nothing wrong.”
