The UCI has revealed it plans to check at least 10,000 bikes for possible mechanical doping during the 2016 season, combining the use of the magnetic flux density tablet, information gathered during races and even the unannounced use of occasional thermal cameras. However the UCI seems concerned about the rapidly increasing development in hidden bike motor technology that has left them playing catch-up to the potential cheats and highly skilled rogue engineers ready to sell their knowledge to the highest bidder.
The UCI revealed some details of how it uses a tablet device to check for signals of hidden motors to selected media, including Cyclingnews, at the UCI Headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland on Tuesday. UCI Technical Manager Mark Barfield revealed the tablet device is an iPad mini equipped with specially developed software with British company Endoscope-i. The testing procedure was developed with the Typhoon brand of e-bikes created by former Oakley representative Harry Gibbings.
The UCI has worked hard to show it is serious about fighting mechanical doping in recent weeks, especially after the detailed investigation by the French Stade 2 television show and Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera suggested that motors are in use in the professional peloton and that the most advanced form of mechanical doping is now hidden in the rear wheel, with a series of magnets hidden in the rim producing a small but significant power source to boost performance.
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Barfield described the wheels as 'mystical' saying: "As far as we're aware they're a theoretical model only. Nobody has presented a working pair to us. They're based on electromagnetism and so we can detect that."
It seems the UCI has also been unable to study the new smaller version of the hidden motors that Stade 2 revealed. The UCI’s demonstration was based around discovering the much larger seat tube motors that are sold in the Typhoon bikes. The UCI did not provide specific data on the accuracy of its tablet device or if special metal shielding of a motor can, claiming the practicality of the device and the difficulties of using ultrasonic, x-ray or thermal imaging outweighed any limitations.
"We believe the tablet can detect every kind of motor," Barfield told Cyclingnews after completing the presentation of the device.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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