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‘Motor doping’: Paris Olympics prepares to put a break on cycling cheaters | The Union Cycliste Internationale’s introduction of X-ray imaging in 2018 marked a major advancement in detecting hidden electric motors in bicycles

Motor doping with hidden electric motors is a major cycling issue, prompting advanced detection at the Paris Olympics.

Recent dramatic events, including a French cycling official leaping onto the hood of a van in a high-speed chase, highlight the lengths to which some will go to combat this modern form of cheating. The UCI initially tried using infrared cameras to spot concealed motors, but these proved ineffective in pre-and post-race scenarios due to the cold state of the hidden equipment. UCI President David Lappartient’s administration has been proactive in addressing motor doping, with initiatives including the deployment of X-ray scanners at major events like the Tour de France.

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