Cynics have suspected it for some time, but cycling fans awoke yesterday to news of the sport's first confirmed case of so-called mechanical doping. UCI president Brian Cookson confirmed that Femke Van den Driessche, pre-race favourite in the U23 women's race, had been caught with a concealed motor in her bike at the cyclocross world championships in Zolder, Belgium.
"It's absolutely clear that there was technological fraud. There was a concealed motor. I don't think there are any secrets about that," UCI president Brian Cookson told a news conference.
The discovery came on Saturday when Van den Driessche's bike was examined as part of the UCI's regular sporadic testing of bikes used in competitive events. Ironically, Van den Driessche had been forced to withdraw from the women's under-23 race because of mechanical issues. The 19-year-old denied cheating, saying that she was "totally unaware" of the motor and that the seized bike, while identical to hers, had been given to her by mistake.
"It wasn't my bike, it was that of a friend and was identical to mine," a tearful Van den Driessche told Belgian TV channel Sporza. "This friend went around the course Saturday before dropping off the bike in the truck. A mechanic, thinking it was my bike, cleaned it and prepared it for my race."
"I feel really terrible. I'm aware I have a big problem. (But) I have no fears of an inquiry into this. I have done nothing wrong," she added.
UCI rules specify that competitors found guilty of cheating face disqualification, a six-month suspension and a fine of up to 200,000 Swiss francs (£137,000). As the first rider to be caught for the offence Van den Driessche's punishment is likely to set a benchmark. There have already been calls from within the sport, including from Etixx team leader Patrick Lefevre, for a lifetime ban in order to deter others.
"We've heard some stories for a long time now about the possibility of this. We have been alive to a potential way that people might cheat and we have been testing a number of bikes and a number of events for several months," Cookson said.
"We have been looking at different methods of testing this kind of technology and we tested a number of bikes yesterday and one was found.
"We will keep testing both at this event and subsequent events. Whether this means that there is widespread use of this form of cheating remains to be seen."
The case will next go before the UCI's disciplinary commission.
Debut win for GB's Evie Richards
The motor cheating story overshadowed a fantastic win in the U23 event for Britain's Evie Richards. Competing in her first race overseas, Richards took the lead at the end of the first lap and held on to claim the win - despite admitting she wasn't aware what position she was in during the race itself.
"I started quite far at the back," she told British Cycling afterwards. "I was third row so I didn't really know where I was to be honest.
"I didn't realise I was in first and I'm not a fan of riding in a group. I just wanted to make a break and just get away and see how long I could last. I lasted four laps!
"It feels amazing! This is my first cyclo-cross race abroad so to get a jersey for my first race is incredible," she added.
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