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LATEST FEATURES: LIVE FROM LAKE COMO: THE STORY THAT KEEPS MOTORING ON
Gregor Brown
June 17, 2010
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(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
The batter-powered bicycle topic that started as small news story during the Giro d'Italia's southern stages last month keeps motoring on.
"I think the media reaction has been absurd, and I am a bit disappointed," said Saxo Bank manager, Bjarne Riis. "It's not Alice in Wonderland, it's the real world."
Riis is correct in that the motorized bike claims had been wrongly directed at his rider Fabian Cancellara. The Swiss powerhouse obtained his wins in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix this spring following 10 years as a professional and steady progression.
Cancellara turned professional back in 2001 with team Mapei, under the watchful eye of Aldo Sassi. Sassi was known then and is known now – continuing in his private training practice – for his clean, anti-doping training techniques.
One of Sassi's clients, Italian Ivan Basso went on to win the Giro d'Italia. In stage 10, over to Italy's heel, Basso's Liquigas team was still on the hurting after losing the lead to Alexander Vinokourov two days before. Basso had to wait to recover the race lead and secure his win in the third week's mountain stages.
The morning of stage 10, May 18, the riders had a short transfer to the start in Avellino, enough time to read the article that appeared in the newspaper Il Giornale. American Tyler Farrar, who went on to win the stage that day, does not understand Italian completely, but enough to make out Il Giornale's title: Un motore invisible per le bici dei campioni.
The newspaper article gathered attention.
"We have been looking at bicycles over the last months," said the president of the International Cycling Union (UCI), Pat McQuaid a week later. "Our sport is about the athletes and not about the bike."
Rai television commentator and ex-professional Davide Cassani took Il Giornale's article a step further and showed an example of the motorized bike on television May 26, the night after stage 18.
"I tried it and I can say that if I raced with this bike I could win a stage of the Giro d'Italia, even if I am 50 years old," said Cassani. "It is impressive. I could go 50km/h without any fatigue."
Cassani explained that some professionals had used a version of it since 2004. One can buy the motor, or one similar, from German company Gruber Assist www.gruberassist.com and install it in a frame's seat tube. The motor assists your pedalling, provides 100 watts and lasts from 60 to 90 minutes – enough for an attack in the finale of a race.
The presentation on Italian television and Il Giornale's article was enough to spark the imagination of Michele Bufalino. Bufalino posted a video on YouTube May 29 that combined Cassani's report and pointed the finger at Cancellara's attacks in Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Gruber Assist's motor requires the user to push a button to engage the motor and, according to Bufalino, Cancellara made strange finger movements during his winning attacks.
"People think this way because of the YouTube video, but that is not how I race, I am pro," Cancellara responded. "I know how I won. I have showed over the last 10 years that I have an engine in my body, not in my bike."
Cancellara is an exemplary cyclist and deserves respect. That said, the UCI and Italy are investigating if any professionals are using a motor.
"The person who gave it [the test bike] to us," said Cassani, "confirmed that some professionals have used it."
Cassani met last Monday, June 11, with the UCI to explain what he knows and this Monday, two days ago, met with Italian public prosecutor Raffaele Guariniello in Turin. Guariniello opened up an investigation last week because betting on cycling is legal in Italy and any attempt to alter the results – with a motorized bike or doping – is considered sporting fraud.
Guariniello is serious. He worked on several high-profile cases, including the sporting fraud case – this time doping – of top Italian soccer club, Juventus. Doctor Riccardo Agricola was given a 22-month suspended prison sentence, but he appealed until the affair had surpassed the statute of limitations.
Time will tell when this topic will stop motoring along. |
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