Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news
Video
Racing
Videos: Ryder Hesjedal reacts to mechanical doping claimsHesjedal e-bike

Videos: Ryder Hesjedal reacts to mechanical doping claims

Garmin-Sharp man says he finds claims funny, but also sad that they were made
by Simon_MacMichael
Fri, Sep 05, 2014 13:23
0

Garmin-Sharp’s Ryder Hesjedal has hit back at claims that the bike he was using when he crashed on Stage 7 of the Vuelta a Espana last week had a concealed motor on board.

Yesterday, we reported how video showing the rear wheel continuing to spin as he lay on the ground had let some to assume that he was getting mechanical assistance – and we explained why that was unlikely to be the case.

In a TV interview conducted outside the team bus, the Canadian said: “I saw some of the headlines and various news agencies. I think it’s kind of ridiculous. It’s almost not even worth talking about but I’ll stand here and answer the questions.”

Asked to confirm that he did not have an engine in his bike, he laughed and said: “No… clearly not otherwise I probably would have used it to get back up to the front of the race after.

Yeah it is what it is… the back wheel’s still spinning because I was on the ground, it caught the ground and it took off a little bit.

“I think it’s funny in itself that they would even say that because even an assisted bike, it’s the crank that’s assisted so if the crank’s not moving and the rear wheel’s spinning, that’s not possible to help it. It’s not something that can do that to a bike.

“We laugh [about it], it’s funny, but I also think it’s not that funny that news agencies put that kind of stuff out there, that’s not right.

“I don’t think it’s damaging because it’s completely ridiculous but we’ve got enough things to worry about… It’s just sad that that’s something they need to put out there.”

Hesjedal’s former team mate at Garmin-Sharp, Alex Rasmussen, shows in this video how the rear wheel could have spun the bike round after the crash.

As the allegations of mechanical assistance spread on social media yesterday, Hesjedal’s manager at Garmin-Sharp, Jonathan Vaughters, tweeted:

 

 

motorgate
Vuelta a Espana
Ryder Hesjedal
motor in your downtube
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Latest Comments