The 2018 Tour de France sees the fight against mechanical doping step up a level, with an X-ray machine, thermal cameras, and tagging of bike changes all being employed throughout the three weeks.
The UCI is continuing to use its tablet device to scan bikes for hidden motors or magnetic wheels at the start of each stage, but the governing body's new package of measures, which includes X-ray examination and the in-race use of thermal cameras, will come in to force for the first time at the Tour de France.
Thermal imaging was used in the 2016 and 2017 editions of the Tour de France on the initiative of the French Ministry of Sport, who sourced the cameras from the French Atomic Energy Commission. This year the technology will be used by UCI commissaires, with the governing body collaborating with the French anti-doping agency and French police throughout the three weeks.
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In a step further, race officials are also tagging bikes in the event of suspicious mid-race bike changes, in order to test the old bike as well as the new one at the finish.
Former Tour de France podium-finisher Jean-Christophe Péraud is leading the fight against mechanical doping, having been appointed by the UCI as Equipment Manager in November, and he spoke to Cyclingnews in Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, where the Tour kicked off on Saturday, to explain the new measures in place.
"First of all, we have the magnetic scanners which will be used to check bikes before the start of the stages," Péraud said. "Then we will have thermal cameras in the race. Mainly, we will have the X-ray truck at the finish, which will allow us to check several bikes, beyond just the stage winner's.
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via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/x-rays-thermal-cameras-bike-tags-part-of-fight-against-mechanical-doping-at-tour-de-france
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