The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) have confirmed today that all tests for technological fraud at this years’ Tour de France were negative.
The unannounced tests were carried out prior, during or after racing, throughout the 21 stages of the three-week event. In total 3,773 tests were performed using magnetic resistance technology.
Since first deploying this new scanning method in January, the UCI has tested more than 10,000 bikes at many races in different disciplines and in different gender and age categories.
It is with this method that the only case of technological fraud to date was detected at the 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Heusden-Zolder (Belgium). The discovery of a concealed engine in one of the bikes of Femke Van den Driessche later led to the rider being imposed a six-year ban and a significant fine by the UCI Disciplinary Commission.
To both assess their performance and to ensure a varied and unpredictable testing protocol, the UCI has also used supplementary methods of detection at the Tour, such as thermal imaging and X-rays. All additional tests verified the results obtained using magnetic resistance technology.
“I want to thank the UCI staff for its hard work and dedication in testing so many bikes over the past three weeks,” said UCI President Brian Cookson. “This demonstrates our absolute commitment to leave no stone unturned in a matter that if not tackled properly, could seriously damage the renewed reputation of cycling.”
“I would also like to thank the riders, the teams, the organiser of this year’s Tour, as well as the French police – in particular the Office Central de la Lutte contre les Atteintes à l’Environnement et à la Santé Publique (OCLAESP) – for their co-operation and support.”
“We will continue to test bikes heavily throughout the rest of the season, and do everything in our power to make sure this form of cheating stays out of our sport”.
@GregLemond will be extremely disappointed.