FRANCE : AMATEUR CYCLIST "DOPES HIS BIKE" !

A French amateur cyclist aged 43 came out of  retirement after his wife said she wanted to see him compete ; he then won a couple of amateur races.

Aware that an electric device (with a limited time capacity) could be fitted to bikes to help competitors, he bought one and used it.   This device is available in specialist shops and purchases are frequent.

This amateur has now become the first cyclist to be charged criminally for this type of "swindling".  His club and the French Federation of Cyclists (FFC) are also considering action ! 

It is not surprising that suddenly the "World of Cycling" is reacting in this way.  After the "doped cyclists" we now have "doped bikes" !
 
But the key question now is : "Are the bikes of Professional Competitors systematically and properly checked" ?  In particular, are "reserve bikes" supplied during races also checked ?

For the last 60 years it has been a well known fact that, in France at least, Professional Cyclists used dope to improve their performances.

One should never forget that in 1967 Tom Simpson collapsed and died in the Tour de France.   In 2012 all of Lance Armstrong's Victories were all cancelled and removed from the records !

Is the "World of Cycling" today really sure that there is no more cheating through the use of Drugs ? 

Is "Throwing the Book" at an amateur aged 43, who could even end up in prison, really the right place to start cleaning-up the World of Cycling again ?

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