TEAM SKY, WHICH has produced four of the past five Tour de France champions, and doping-disgraced Lance Armstrong have denied using secret motors in bicycles.
A report on CBS show “60 Minutes” examined the possibility of motorised cheating in pro cycling with three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, admitted dope cheat ex-rider Tyler Hamilton and Hungarian designer Istvan Varjas, who makes hidden motors for bikes, saying they believe such cheating exists.
“I know the motor is still in the sport,” LeMond said. “There’s always a few bad apples because it’s a lot of money.”
Jean Pierre Verdy, a former French Anti-Doping Agency testing director, told CBS he had been disturbed by speeds on mountain climbs, saying informants among riders and team managers told him that about 12 riders used motors in the 2015 Tour de France.
They are hurting their sport, but human nature is like that. Man has always tried to find that magic potion,” Verdy said.
Varjas said he told French police he sold secret-motor cycles to an unknown client just before the 2015 Tour, delivering the bikes to a locked storage room. He noted one motor design can be hidden inside the hub of the back wheel but would boost the normal wheel weight by about 800 grams.
- 2015 Tour -
In the 2015 Tour de France, peloton bikes were weighed before a time trial stage, with CBS reporting French authorities said Team Sky was the only squad with heavier bikes, each about 800 grams more.
“Weight is everything,” LeMond said. “If your bike weighs a kilo more, you would never race on it.”
Britain’s Chris Froome, riding for Sky, won the 2013, 2015 and 2016 Tour de France crowns. In 2015, he was “King of the Mountains” for his times in the difficult climbing stages that often prove decisive. No Tour winner since 1970 had won the mountain crown as well.
A Team Sky spokesman told CBS the team never used mechanical assistance, saying time trial bikes might be heavier to allow for better aerodynamics and all Sky bikes were checked and cleared by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
CBS reported, citing unnamed sources, that UCI would not allow French investigators in 2015 to remove Team Sky wheels and weigh them alone to uncover if they were enhanced.
LeMond said UCI must do more to combat motorised cheating.
“This is fixable,” LeMond said. “I don’t trust it until they figure out how to take the motor out. I won’t trust any victories of the Tour de France.”
Armstrong, an admitted dope cheat who was stripped of seven Tour de France titles from 1999-2005, denied to CBS through his lawyer ever using a motor, although his victory run began just after Varjas claims he sold his first secret-motor bike to an anonymous purchaser with a promise not to make more or talk of it for 10 years.
If they offer you $2 million dollars to don’t do nothing, can you refuse it? I don’t think (so),” he told CBS.
- A ‘winning’ difference -
Armstrong’s ex-teammate, Hamilton, said he never knew of any motors used by US Postal riders.
CBS purchased a 1999 US Postal cycle and had Varjas install a motor, paying him $12,000 for parts and labour, then had Hamilton ride it.
It’s not super obvious,” he said. “I could see how teams are doing it.”
The silent motor made with military-grade metal is powered by a lithium battery and operated by a secret button, providing a limited power boost for 20 minutes.
That’s the difference between winning and losing for sure,” Hamilton said. “For sure.”
A remote control can connect the motor to heart rate, the motor starting when a rider’s heart rate rises too high, Varjas said.
Varjas said he knew motors were being used by pro riders but said it’s not his problem, adding “If the money is big, why not?”
Varjas claimed Michele Ferrari, banned from cycling for his role in chemical doping programmes, has bought hidden-motor bikes in the past three years, but CBS said Ferrari told them he tested one but never bought one from Varjas.
– © AFP 2017; first published 10.10
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Both the Dublin footballers and hurlers are arrogant and seem to display little or no respect for other teams. The funny thing is, they have won f**k all and are disliked universally throughout the land for their attitude. Kerry will win, as always…obviously. Duh!
That’s just Dubs in general. They can’t help it. You’d nearly feel sorry for ‘em
Your basing this opinion on previous Dublin teams,who believed their media hype,this team doesnt have that arrogance and youl see it when they play Kerry on Sunday.Remember everyone said Tyrone would wipe the floor with Dublin and Donegals defence would be too much oh and not to forget the fact that Kildare had already won the all Ireland according to some parts of the media.So you cant write the dubs off just yet.
And as for saying all dub people are arrogant,its like me saying all non dubs are uneducated farmers…not true of course.
Yes, whereas the footballers and hurlers from all other counties are demure and chivalrous to a man. What a pile of prejudiced sh!te.
Well yes, they are actually…compare Kilkenny senior hurlers to Dublin hurlers. One team have won it all yet remain humble and respectful, the other team…well yeah, just Dublin being Dublin
You really believe the Dublin hurlers disrepect possibly the greatest hurling team ever to grace a park? You’re more twisted in your Dub hatred than I first thought.
Dublin – “We don’t really give a damn about anyone else” Good man Dotsy )))
dublin play and act like every other team in the country yous all say we believe in the hype ,dont we all if a county’s doin well they get mega press and believe in the hype its not just dublin
(((((((((((((Well yes, they are actually…compare Kilkenny senior hurlers to Dublin hurlers. One team have won it all yet remain humble and respectful, the other team…well yeah, just Dublin being Dublin)))))))))))) burnt toast
just remember we beat kilkenny twice in the league almost beat them in the leinster final in which we played fair while kilkenny fouled us everytime vwe got the ball and if we had beaten tip we would have given kilkenny a hell of a game and may well have beaten them
also we have a young team takin out the top teams in ireland all through the year of course some of it will get to the players
dublin of course!
of course ? lol
ROFL
I’m a dub living in the country and the abuse I’m getting over my Dublin flag is unreal!! I am by no means arrogant, just a fan. Really hope the lads do it, true blue forever…..
Haters, twisted haters.
Salt of the earth !
Head says Kerry, heart says Dublin. Up the Dubs!
I commented after the Dublin v Kildare game that I didn’t think either team would win the All Ireland. Given my record to date, you would be well advised to bet on the Dubs to win!
i think the pie chart should have been the ‘standard’ shades of blue colours…
My Dub flag is flying high in Langerland……… Cork people hate everyone other than themselves…….. Football to win after the donegal fiasco but sam is going to the DUBS
burnt toast give example of arrogance please
The ad for McDonalds … ” ‘You’re not in Longford now, Flynn’,” and “Don’t be stupid. It wrecks the cheese.” … Dubs know everything, of course!!
;)
@Alan. Have you ever reheated a big mac in the microwave?
Course not! It wrecks the cheese! … Doh!
Hm where to start, oh yeah… the hurling team pre-booking a bar in Dublin to celebrate their anticipated win against Kilkenny…who of course trashed them. Is that arrogance or gross stupidity, cringe :(
It’s called contingency, toast, having a plan for all eventualities. But you’re obviously coiled so tightly with apopectic hatred for all things Dublin that you’re ready to take every little detail and blow it out of all proportion.
hahaha oh that’s what it is called is it, funny how no other GAA team in the history of the game have had such a premature contingency plan blow up in their face lol Good man yourself, anymore jokes ;)
Read this:
http://joe.ie/gaa/gaa-news/the-pre-emptive-dublin-hurlers-party-plans-pr-0013661-1
Think you’ll find it was the Bar and not the team who jumped the gun.
Your imminent apology is accepted, toast.
No, donl;t be silly…it was the team and that is well known. No good getting your PR boys to spin a story blaming the bar. Have they booked the Shelbourne for Sundays celebrations yet I wonder, will you be there ? ))
Galvin holds key
Dublin haven’t had a great football team since the 70′s. They have Alan Brogan and ….????. Would Alan Brogan make the Kerry team, maybe, maybe not. I don’t like to see Kerry win but i’d say they’ll walk this one, win by 10 points. The cheap Dublin players always hype up Dublin in the campaign and their fans buy in to it every time.
Tony, the Dubs have Alan Brogan and reigning Footballer of the Year Bernard Brogan too… Read a newspaper, Pal…
Up the Dubs ;)
Oh wow, and how many Brogan’s have Kerry got ? Stop reading your tabloid papers ‘pal’ ;)
wrong tony, the media always hype up Dublin, players say no different to players from other counties and the genuine fans know exactly how good or bad the team is so take what’s in the papers with a pinch of salt.. I’m hoping Dublin win but not expecting it..
Correct on all counts Peter.
Who gives a flying f**k
I couldn’t care less.
Got any spare tickets?
Galvin to win it from the bench….
Gooch to be unstoppable, get man of the match and player of the year. You heard it here first.
You would swear life depended on this sport. Its a few guys running around a pitch. Utter boring. I’d rather sit on the toilet than sit and watch this match or any match for that matter.
I’ll be looking for a pub that has no television, thank you very much.
I take it the glass in your picture is half empty?
Yet you scrolled through all these comments…
Who cares about bog-ball, horrible primitive sport loved by lads with thick heads, and lasses with think ankles… Man Utd v Chelsea, 4pm Sunday, yes please!
My heart says Dublin……head says Kerry. :(
I’m so glad Dublin won! Eat your words haters :)
Dublin have a huge advantage playing at home in their usual championship stadium in front of what will probably be over 70% Dublin supporters.
No way , croker is kerrys home stadium , up Kerry
Dublin defensive system will give Kerry half back line too much space, Kerry will score more. So Dublin must attack, reducing their defence meaning Kerry will score more. Galvin is there just in case. I think! Hope it’s a good game anyhoo