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PROFESSIONAL CYCLING WAS rocked over the weekend when 19-year-old Belgian rider Femke Van den Driessche, competing in the cyclocross world championships, was caught with a bicycle that had a motor hidden in the frame, and since then many have been talking about one Austrian company’s product: the Vivax Assist.
The sport’s governing body, the UCI, told Business Insider on Tuesday that it wouldn’t comment at this time on what type of motor was actually found in the bike, stating that “the procedure must now follow its course until the UCI Disciplinary Commission renders its decision.”
For her part, Van den Driessche said it wasn’t her bike and insisted she was “totally unaware” it was fitted with a hidden motor.
In the meantime, curious observers are talking about the Vivax Assist, a small motor that’s inserted into a bike frame and activated by pushing a button that’s installed on the handlebar. It weighs about four pounds, can produce up to 110 watts of power, and costs $3,000.
Company condemns those who would race with a motor
Business Insider spoke on Tuesday with Vivax’s Ulrike Treichl, who’s in charge of the company’s marketing and PR. She said she was shocked upon hearing the news over the weekend that a competitive cyclist had been caught with a hidden motor in her bike, but made it clear that Vivax has no idea whether or not the motor used was one of its own.
“We can’t say if she used our motor, but of course maybe she used it,” Treichl said. “We don’t know. For us it is very disappointing when a product that can bring great benefit to many customers is used for other intents, for that is really unacceptable.
“The system is not intended for use in competition,” she added. “This was not in the mind of the inventor. And we’d like to say we condemn the use of the Vivax Assist system in competition.”
Treichl said Vivax sells 1,200 motors a year and is the only company in Europe that makes such a product. Vivax does not deliver to private persons but works strictly through distributors.
No one connected to the cyclist had purchased products from Vivax, Treichl added.
The GIF below shows how the Vivax Assist works. (This is a mountain bike, but the system works roughly the same way on a road or cyclocross bike.)
“We also welcome the inspection of the UCI, and hope that a rethink in competitive sport takes place, and that fairness is first and forward again,” Treichl said. “We’d like to sell the Vivax only to cyclists who use additional assistance if needed, and not to people who are going to competition.”
- Daniel McMahon
I thought the same thing at the time. Here’s our greatest rugby athlete being let down by the medical staff at the very end of his career (pre one more year). Why there wasnt a bigger outcry and inquiry at the time baffled me. Glad it’s now being centre staged. The medics have questions to answer
I agree completely , unfortunately people are selfish and just want him to continue playing as the man is so important to us. Somebody should have sat the man down and protected him. He has hopefully 40 plus years to live his life and he needs to remember that rugby ain’t everything.
the old saying rings true, ‘nobody shoots a winning race horse’
I imagine the medical staff are under severe pressure to get him back in. Strange decision – the irfu have a fantastic medical team as witnessed by the use of Dr. Falvey with the lions.
Have to admit- on most other things related to rugby I think the use of slow motion constant replays have made things that are quite innocuous look very serious. On this matter this guy is spot on, any brain injury needs the most time to recover- I love the game and selfishly I want him to come back on the field but the best thing for a concussed player is rarely considered in urgent situations. The More debate and awareness of this issue the better, we need to protect guys like these bravery from themselves.
I’m with you, Richard!
Nowinski is a top bloke. He’s done a lot of work to help reducw head trauma and concussions in pro wrestling and other contact sports
Well fair play to him getting involved in rugby.
I agree this guy stepped up after concussion put an end to his pro wrestling career… He had done an epic amount of work in regards to head trauma in sports…. Something that has to be taken more serious here….. As usual Ireland will not act until it takes a life…
I worry about BOD. He is so committed on the field and I hope he doesn’t end up with some long term injury at this stage of his career.
I remember the incident and was equelly amazed that BOD was allowed back on the field,he was very groggy and and unsteady on his feet,and i remember thinking that he must have bypassed the physio and had the final say,but for anyone watching,they just knew that it defied logic to see him back on with his head bandaged, but thats our Brian.
Agree 100 percent ..the hits in the game these days are scary, all players need to be protected and Bod is a national treasure ;)
In light of what we now know regarding knocks to the head and the potential risk of concussion, i think it is incumbent on sports managers to be fully versed on the danger associated with such incidents. Questions have to be asked as to the role of the medical team (or doctor) regarding a player who has suffered a concussion,or a severe head injury being allowed back onto the field of play in such a state.
In such scenario as outlined above, it is much better to err on the side of caution in order to avoid the potential for brain damage to occur and the long term implications that such injuries entail
There has been far too much talk and no action on the concussion issue. Why are the IRFU refusing to comment. The recent Falvey interview was complacency at its worst. Surely there is enough evidence now to warrant some official reaction either by John Treacy becoming involved or The Department of Health arranging proper investigation.