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Thermal camera footage allegedly shows pro cyclists using motors

fittish.deadspin.com

71–80 of 307 posts

Re: Thermal camera footage allegedly shows pro cyclists using motors

#71
post #6

No, it doesn't.

I have to agree with you here. The thermal camera footage they did show was just shockingly weak. They had one instance where there was higher than average temperatures coming off of the cogset. Which coincidentally enough is a rotating joint with the weight of a grown man pressing down on it for an entire race. Seeing heat here is not surprising.

Re: Thermal camera footage allegedly shows pro cyclists using motors

#72
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems trivial to detect now though. It's no problem to just tear down the bikes of the first X finishers to look for mechanical aids. Detecting doping reliably is much trickier. edit: I think most high level bikes use carbon fibre frames? You could probably just use x-ray or ultrasound imaging to look for anything suspicious in the frame.

Perhaps implement something similar to the parc ferme rules in F1? Where the winning cars and impounded after the race for detailed inspection and measurements by the stewards to ensure that they comply with the thousands of regulations? Drivers have been disqualified in the past for a spoiler or brake caliper measurement that are millimetres out, and I remember Daniel Ricciardo was stripped of his podium here in Aus…

Parc ferme is practical when you have 20 racers at a purpose-built track, but a logistical nightmare when you have 200 racers going between rural villages.

The UCI already impounds bicycles for testing after races, in the same ways as anti-doping controls are applied.

Re: Thermal camera footage allegedly shows pro cyclists using motors

#73
post #69
post #64

Just take the bike out of the race entirely. Declare a year in advance that the bike will be XYZ model Q so people can train on them, and the race maintains custody of all race bikes, spares, etc. It's already a money-competition to see who can buy the best super-bike. Yes, you have to have a minimum weight, but that just means that you can take a superbike and spend the extra weight applying aerodynamic fairings whe…

The last time I bought a new bicycle, I had to try a lot of them before I found one I really enjoyed. I'd imagine world-class cyclists are even pickier than I am.

I think they're picky about who pays them the most.

Re: Thermal camera footage allegedly shows pro cyclists using motors

#74
post #69
post #64

Just take the bike out of the race entirely. Declare a year in advance that the bike will be XYZ model Q so people can train on them, and the race maintains custody of all race bikes, spares, etc. It's already a money-competition to see who can buy the best super-bike. Yes, you have to have a minimum weight, but that just means that you can take a superbike and spend the extra weight applying aerodynamic fairings whe…

The last time I bought a new bicycle, I had to try a lot of them before I found one I really enjoyed. I'd imagine world-class cyclists are even pickier than I am.

Yeah, it'd be like telling marathoners they have to wear a specific model of shoe. There's so many factors that go into comfort etc.

Re: Thermal camera footage allegedly shows pro cyclists using motors

#75
post #69
post #64

Just take the bike out of the race entirely. Declare a year in advance that the bike will be XYZ model Q so people can train on them, and the race maintains custody of all race bikes, spares, etc. It's already a money-competition to see who can buy the best super-bike. Yes, you have to have a minimum weight, but that just means that you can take a superbike and spend the extra weight applying aerodynamic fairings whe…

The last time I bought a new bicycle, I had to try a lot of them before I found one I really enjoyed. I'd imagine world-class cyclists are even pickier than I am.

The biggest differentiator is height. I assume taller people have more muscle power hence should be put in different category.

Re: Thermal camera footage allegedly shows pro cyclists using motors

#76

Am I the only cyclist here? I can't imagine voluntarily putting batteries in my bike on a long, mountainous stage. There's no way the batteries will last, and then I'm stuck with dead weight. And, looking through the actual documentary, I didn't see any incontrovertable thermal proof of a battery in any racer. In the guy posing for a shot, yes, but not in the cyclists laboring up the hill.

The key thing is being able to respond to attacks and keep a gap from forming. Often all this takes is a well-timed burst of power for a few seconds at a time. Easier said than done, but juice from a battery could easily make the difference.

Re: Thermal camera footage allegedly shows pro cyclists using motors

#77
post #64

Just take the bike out of the race entirely. Declare a year in advance that the bike will be XYZ model Q so people can train on them, and the race maintains custody of all race bikes, spares, etc. It's already a money-competition to see who can buy the best super-bike. Yes, you have to have a minimum weight, but that just means that you can take a superbike and spend the extra weight applying aerodynamic fairings whe…

This is not about fixing the problem. Actually in professional cycling nobody is interested in fixing the problem. They want to give the appearance that it's fair, but there are massive conflicts of interests between organizers, sponsors and teams to prevent a "clean sport" equilibrium to take place.

Re: Thermal camera footage allegedly shows pro cyclists using motors

#78
post #9

What makes cycling so particularly attractive to cheating? Or is cheating in cycling just getting more publicity than in other sports?

Because it is one of the most difficult sports, if not the most difficult one. There are not many others, where you race 4 to 7 hours 6 days a week (and besides the 3 main tours, you are engaged in a gazillion of one-week tours, 3-days races, one-day classics, etc., teams run several races happening at the same time in different part of world, even second or third categories teams).

Another parameter is that it is probably the sport where it is harder to make a difference, because of the importance of drafting. Leaving the protection from the wind at fair speed is a bit like hitting a wall, it requires an amazing amount of energy compared to staying in the group. But if you ever want to win, at some point...

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