The more I learn about cycling, the less I understand it. Not only are the riders apparently on various forms of performance enhancers, but now the bikes themselves may be doped up? That’s the claim of a former cycling pro, who recently demonstrated on Italian TV — shown here in a post on The Score — how a motor can be hidden in a racing bike and used by anyone without being detected. Jesus. How long before the Tour de France starts using pit stops? From Randy Starkman of the Toronto Star:
The buzz in the cycling community right now is over claims that Swiss cycling star Fabian Cancellara may have had a motor inside his bike frame when he won the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix this season.
It’s the kind of bike that could help a recreational rider compete in the Tour de France.
In fact, the controversy was flamed by former Italian cyclist turned commentator Davide Cassani, who showed a motorized bike like the one allegedly used by Cancellara on Italian TV and said he could win a stage of the Giro d’Italia on such a bike at the age of 50. He won two stages during his career, in 1991 and 1992.
Cycling, if this is true. you’ve officially jumped the shark. And also, where can I get one of these bikes?
***
Carl, see that Major Strasser gets a good table, one close to Wednesday.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT
What you missed while driving the original James Bond Aston Martin …
* Don Cherry needs to be institutionalized. Now.
* Your CBSSports.com correspondent from the World Cup … Steve Nash?
* Don’t spend a lot of time waiting for tweets from Ravens practice this year.
***
TODAY IN MARK TRAIL …
Number of crimes being committed in other parts of town during this story arc: 57.
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- Threat Level: Midnight - Jun 2, 2010 at 11:15 AM
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…may have had a motor inside his bike frame when he won the Tour of Flanders…
He’s a cheater-ino!
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- Rick Chandler - Jun 2, 2010 at 12:02 PM
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+1. Highddily-ho, enhancerinos!
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- Matt - Jun 2, 2010 at 1:21 PM
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Rick – Stick with things you know about. For example doping in football, baseball and basketball. At least cycling actively attempts to catch and punish the cheats, unlike mainstream American sports.
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- Rick Chandler - Jun 2, 2010 at 2:25 PM
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But they’re very difficult to catch when they’re on motorized bikes.
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- ryand - Jun 2, 2010 at 6:41 PM
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I heard that the motor isn’t actually powered by batteries or even gasoline, but instead by the sweat of Jens Voigt.
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- emcb1230 - Jun 3, 2010 at 7:26 AM
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shut up legs
