There is indeed a small revolution. From now on, this can be checked with a portable device that works with X-rays. Until today, a trailer is required for the check, which replaced the system of the well-known tablets from the pioneering days of mechanical checks.
“That trailer is very large and very heavy. It is cumbersome to drive around,” explains ex-rider Michael Rogers, now UCI director of Renewal. “We couldn’t travel outside of Europe with it either.”
“Now we finally have a portable device that is very light and can be transported all over the world. We are getting very good results with it.”
UCI president David Lappartient is not so much afraid of technical fraud: “But we mainly want to avoid technological fraud. One thing is fundamental for this: carry out checks. We can now carry out these both at start and finish.”
The UCI wants to step up checks. The new device costs 45,000 euros each, the UCI has bought 2 of them. The cycling federation strives to ensure that the national federations also invest in a device.
“Now we only check at the Grand Tours, the Grand Classics and the World Championships. But of course there are a lot more races in different categories. We want to be more present, because controls are necessary because the technology is getting smaller and finer.”
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