A motor has reportedly been found inside a bicycle at the 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - with the UCI seizing the bike under suspicion of 'mechanical doping'.
The bike belongs to Femke Van den Driessche, acccording to the Belgian cycling federation (RLVB), who was riding for Belgium in the women's U23 race. So does "technological fraud" mean a motor has been found in a bike?
The UCI has confirmed it has seized the bicycle, but has not confirmed the nature of the alleged fraud. Meanwhile Belgian television is reporting that a small motor was found inside the frame.
The UCI said they were examining the bicycle for “technological fraud”.
“Our auditors detected mechanical fraud -- it quickly became apparent that something was wrong,” UCI race coordinator Peter Van den Abeele said.
Femke's father told the Belgian newspaper De Standaard that it was planted by "someone in her entourage [who] took the bike into the pit"
He said that it was a bike sometimes used by one of her trainers, and "it was never the intention that they would ride it."
He added: "We also do not understand well what "technical fraud" exactly means."
He also denied that Femke had ridden the bike at all, saying: "Femke has been European and Belgian Champion. Why would you do this in a world championship?"
We don't have any more details to go on at the moment, and we don't obviously want to jump to any conclusions without knowing all the facts, but does it mean a rider has been caught using a motor concealed in the frame?
The UCI has stepped up tests for concealed motors in frames in recent years, following several allegations of mechanical doping, as it's often called, at races over the years.
An artist's impression
The UCI confirms the checks followed the women's under 23 race and doesn't involve any of the top three riders.
- Mechanical doping - the pro cycling story that won't go away
Here's the statement in full?
"The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) confirms that pursuant to the UCI's Regulations on technological fraud a bike has been detained for further investigation following checks at the Women's Under 23 race of the 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships. This does not concern any of the riders on the podium. Further details will be shared in due course."
- "Hide it!" Vuelta video sparks fresh mechanical doping concerns
- Videos: Ryder Hesjedal reacts to mechanical doping claims
That doesn't mean there wasn't grounds for it though. It just means that someone decided to ignore those grounds.
George O'Groats. It's one of four possible end points, though very few people choose to finish at Ringo O'Groats.
Sounds like a potential Hyphaema, the iris is pretty fragile and making it bleed is quite easy with a blow like that ... been there, done that ...
What HoarseMann said. If you ignore Ray's moans about the App and just concentrate on the fact that its does everyting a Varia Radar AND a Fly 6...
I cycle like far more of a knobhead than I drive. Putting myself at risk on the bike is one thing but putting others at risk in the car is...
The comments on that facebook post are the worst bin fire you could imagine. 10,000+ posts about how much self-confessed bigots hate people on...
I modified our tandem so the stoker chainset can freewheel.
My old man always told me if the butler isn't there to pop the cork just make sure you don't hit the horse.
Wheel makers aren't going to get much money from me now I don't have to worry about wearing out the rims on a commute to work in all weathers.
Considering that they've only got a 1 in 360 chance of getting it right by accident, we should applaud the fact that 'our highly skilled operatives...