An amateur cyclist in Italy has been caught using an electric motor concealed in the frame of his bike during a race.
Alessandro Andreoli, aged 53, had finished third at the race at Bedizolle near Brescia on Saturday, where the first prize was a food hamper, reports the Corriere della Sera.
But afterwards, officials found a motor concealed in the frame of his Argon 18 bike.
The hidden motor was found with the help of a thermal scanner lent by a to organisers by a businessman who is passionate about cycling.
Before the race, the riders were told that bicycles of the first five finishers would be checked for hidden motors.
The controls were said to have been carried out following rumours in recent months that hidden motors were being used in races in the region.
> People behind motor doping website reveal it was a honeypot operation
The judges asked Andreoli, who has reportedly won several races this season, to remove the saddle from the bike.
He declined to do because he was worried of damaging the cables for his electornic gears.
Instead, the judges suggested that the bike be checked over by a specialist mechanic, which he agreed to.
However, as he went to put the bike in the boot, it appears the insults that were being thrown at Andreoli by others who had competed in the race got a bit much for him.
He took his bike and walked off, with the words “I’m suspending myself” – although it will be national cycling federation that will determine the next step.
Last year, Belgian under-23 cyclo-cross rider Femke van den Driessche was banned for six years for technological fraud after a hidden motor was found in her bike at the World Championships, the first time such a device has been found.
18 thoughts on “Amateur cyclist in Italy caught using hidden motor during race”
So they didn’t actually find
So they didn’t actually find the motor, they just found an unusual heat signature <Is what he will say m’lord> Why didn’t he just come sixth?
Leviathan wrote:
Er, because he wouldn’t have got a prize then?
The fact that the Italians bring criminal prosecutions against dopers and other cheats taking part in bike races might explain why he apparently made a quick escape. But perhaps unlikely if his only prize was a food hamper.
Leviathan … you really are as thick as your picture suggests.
Valbrona wrote:
Er, because he wouldn’t have got a prize then?
The fact that the Italians bring criminal prosecutions against dopers and other cheats taking part in bike races might explain why he apparently made a quick escape. But perhaps unlikely if his only prize was a food hamper.
Leviathan … you really are as thick as your picture suggests.— Leviathan
That last bit seems rather harsh and is certainly unecessary.
joules1975 wrote:
Yes, my thoughts exactly.
This site has (most recently) become a place where I frequent the ‘forum’ less and less…
Seems that very few people have any tolerance for anything other than their own opinions, ready to throw around slurs and petty name calling seems to be the most used format for replying to any comment….
The _Kaner wrote:
That last bit seems rather harsh and is certainly unecessary.
— Valbrona Yes, my thoughts exactly. This site has (most recently) become a place where I frequent the ‘forum’ less and less… Seems that very few people have any tolerance for anything other than their own opinions, ready to throw around slurs and petty name calling seems to be the most used format for replying to any comment….— Leviathan
I am sure he was not commenting on my intelligence but my girth, I am indeed thick like a sturdy oak. Kaner thanks for the support, I understand you are like the Muad’Dib; you will bend like a reed in the wind.
Those bloody Italians, only
Those bloody Italians, only cheating themselves. Tsk!
I must have had a late night
I must have had a late night because this story’s confused me. No motor actually found. They told people beforehand they’d be checking, and the guy is allowed to leave with the suspicious bike for examination at a later date. I guess the most interesting part was that someone’s purchased a heat camera for fun… the new metal detecting?
pl6125 wrote:
Detectorist … (hopefully someone will get the reference)
ChrisB200SX wrote:
That’s the individual not the activity.. 🙂
I see he’s denying it now. Or
I see he’s denying it now. Or admitting it on the basis that others were doing it too!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/italian-amateur-denies-using-mechanical-doping
How utterly unsurprising. I’d
How utterly unsurprising. I’d have been more shocked if the headline was “No amateur cyclists in Italy have been caught using hidden motors”.
Yeah I’m not sure the
Yeah I’m not sure the headline matches the body of the report. My Italian’s patchy but I don’t think the original article has anything about them finding a motor either. He had a sulk, a la Simon’s description, and autosospendoed (forgave himself? suspended himself? made his excuses and left..?)
I think I lost it around the stuff about the heat gun costing €15k, but it turned out ok in the end as someone borrowed one from work…?!
Edit: cheers Duncann – more info there. Hopefully I can now work out where the heat gun came from…!
“…..he was worried of
“…..he was worried of damaging the cables…….”
RIP English.
burtthebike wrote:
“However, as he went to put the car in the boot”
RIP proof reading.
Any news on what was in the
Any news on what was in the hamper?
simonmb wrote:
The finest Spanish sirloin steaks, supplied direct from Contador’s butcher i believe!
kitkat wrote:
The hamper was for first place, our intrepid Italian hero was third.
He won a lucky dip Jiffy bag.
don simon wrote:
That wouldn’t be the Team Sky/Bradley Wiggins kind of a Jiffy Bag would it?