Belgian cycling officials to invest in sophisticated scanning gear to test bikes for motor doping: reports

According to reports published in Belgian media, the country’s cycling officials are ready to dole out some serious change to prevent a repeat of Zolder’s motor-doping controversy—as much as 50,000 Euros, to be precise. The expense would cover the purchase of a hand-held scanner to quickly and thoroughly check bikes for illicit motors.

The first use of such equipment, the Belgian Cycling Federation said, could be as early as next Saturday, when Omloop Het Nieuwsblad—the first race of the country’s 2016 calendar—kicks off.

In January, Belgium had the dubious distinction of being the first country to host an event at which the use of motor-doping was discovered, something made worse by the fact that it was a Belgian rider who was accused. At the Heusden-Zolder cyclocross world championships, UCI officials—using a similar scanner—discovered that U23 rider Femke Van den Driessche’s bike had been outfitted with an electronic engine. The motor was discovered in her bike’s bottom bracket, along with electrical cables in the seat post. With the matter now referred to the UCI’s Disciplinary Commission, Van den Driessche faces a six month ban and a fine of 20,000 Swiss francs. Such penalties, however, are the minimum that she and her team can expect.

Investing in the expensive, sophisticated gear used in testing for technological fraud, as the UCI calls it, is an investment in making sure that such infractions never happen again.

As Belgian Cyclng Federation chief Tom Van Damme told the country’s media, “The UCI is working on an app for such controls, but that will not be ready for the season. Since we do not want to wait, we’re ready to buy a scanner and therefore will perform a number of tests next week.” Although Van Damme didn’t specifically mention Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the timing of those tests—and the eminence of the race as the traditional kick-off of the country’s annual racing calendar—suggests that the bikes of Nieuwsblad competitors will be the first to be tested.

Of course, 50,000 Euros is a steep price tag for such gear. But it’s a worthwhile investment, Van Damme said, especially with so many bikes at the start line.

“The unit must be sufficiently practical,” Van Damme explained. “We need to test a large number of bicycles in a short time. Several firms are reputable and the sports technical committee will make a quick decision.”

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad takes place on Feb. 27.