Ex-pro cyclist Phil Gaimon claims Fabian Cancellara used hidden motor

Just to fan the flames of conspiracy theories, I checked the Cyclingnews live updates (posts) from their website shortly after this motor doping story originally broke. Specifically I checked Paris Roubaix and Tour of Flanders that have been highlighted in this article. Interestingly FC actually changed bikes in both races with about 50-60km to go. I'm sure one report even said they couldn't see what was obviously wrong with his bike. I searched for this as carrying around 2kgs of additional weight (weight of the Vivax system) for the previous 200km would be a disadvantage (the battery only lasts around 30 - 45 mins) .
But the Vivax system at the time was the noisier version. Also, the motor can only be installed in a metal tube and battery was external (saddle bag) along with the switch. Whilst I believe, technically, it would have been possible to customise a one-off solution to conceal all this and do some serious hacking to get it in a carbon frame, that would have taken real skill and sourcing of unusual parts. I don't see how this could all be kept quiet as it would have involved suppliers and skilled mechanics. That seems too difficult to keep a lid on to me.
Notwithstanding, FC produced amazing performances consistently throughout his career. So I'm tending not to believe this conspiracy theory.

I don't think Boonen is cooked in terms of slouching over the bars and giving up but he's on the ropes, up and down, swerving a little. I can't remember every detail of the race, perhaps he had less opportunity to hide in the groups etc. At such a crucial point you only need 3 or 4% extra to put somebody to the sword. On the flip side, it does look amazing, the cadence is off the scale and he's flying, extraordinary feats are usually extraordinary though...

Watch this conspiracy video from 3:30 https://youtu.be/8Nd13ARuvVE It's an interesting angle on things, suggesting that the footage shows him 'pressing buttons' not 'shifting gears'... the acceleration from Boonen at Flanders is quite amazing, for me it doesn't look like Boonen's cooked at that point, it just looks like Cancellara 'makes him look cooked' as he rides up the 19% part of the Muur van Geraardsbergen seated, almost without breaking cadence.. it's a superb showing of strength from Cancellera, mind blowingly strong...  by the time boonen reaches the top cancellara has 400meters on him.. which looks to me as that show of strength must have lasted about 45seconds... after 245km's of racing...hmm

Compare this footage from 2:00 in the 2017 Flanders race, these racers have fresher legs with  80km's less racing done and almost everyone is out of the saddle at the exact same point cancellera attacks in 2010 https://youtu.be/-E1BC-6nprI 

hmm

Fabian Cancellara, the guy who is quite well known for being particular about his equipment (sticking to mechanical gears rather than di2) and probably the biggest name on most teams, had his own mechanic and stored his bike spearately, not sure that it's that big a story. the fact that he's ridden to some pretty impressive victories at an older age and at a time when bikes are checked (I imagine his have been checked a good few times with all the rumours, the UCI wouldn't want to get caught out for ignoring the most rumoured motor doper going) gives him the benefit of the doubt in my eyes. 

Will I ever believe 100% in his results? No, I don't think I'd ever bet my house on any sportsperson being totally believeable with their achievements, but of all the likely cheats, I can't see him making it very high up the list.

I honestly think you ought to calm down, take a stress pill and think things over.

I find it amazing when in Olympic 5,000 and 10,000m races, they get to the last lap, or sometimes the last bend, and one man or woman suddenly accelerates away from the rest of the world class field.  AND NO-ONE CLAIMS THEY HAVE MOTORS HIDDEN IN THEIR LEGS!!!  How naive are you people??!!!???  If the guy who wins, on the day, breaks the next best guy, on the day, and opens up a big gap, it's obviously because he has a motor in his bike, or legs, and not because, on the day, he has the legs of a champion, and the other guy realises he is beaten.  Snowflakes!

Jet fuel doesn't melt beams, fire was involved...

There is no proof, but there have always been questions, and there will probably never be any proof. There is no blood stored away in some lab etc. Just a couple of people who know for certain and they will certainly deny it. 

https://twitter.com/nealrogers/status/928648002968764416

Absolute rubbish. Did he ever even ride with Cancellara ? And was he on the electric bike for the rest of his victories ?

This is as bad as the jet fuel can't melt steel beams theories.

He has a point.

This has been rumor mill for years. Unfortunately there is basically zero evidence aside from footage, because it happened years ago and all bikes are long gone/stripped out. And there was only one personal mechanic of Fabian's bike...so unless that one mechanic fesses up, nothing will come of it.

Whether it's true or not, people need to understand it's not like Cancellara was a Joe Schmoe and doping made him a top rider...which is why people don't believe it, because they think that's what is being implicated. He's a top 1%'er, even without the assistance. The cheating just creates the historic moments. Lance didn't win 7 tours in a row because he was ordinary doped Joe Schmoe, he won because he was a 1%'er doped Joe Schmoe.

it is well known...

If you look hard enough you'll see whatever you want.

Now we know it is feasibly possible to hide a motor in a bike. And I can think of a few occasions where 'Fab' rode away from everyone where the crowd noise would have concealed the whir of an electric motor. 

However, from my experience of electric bikes, such use would stand out like a sore thumb and riders would simply not stand for it. They'd either shout out, or jump on the bus (look at doping in the 90's)... the fact that motorised doping is not endemic suggests that its just not there at all.

Actually thinking about it. You know all these clever scanners for detecting motorised doping, why not just weigh the bike? If the battery is hidden in the bike, then the bikes would be 500grams+ heavier than they should be.

Yes you could potentially hide this with lightweight non-stock equipment, but that to me would also stand out... why would someone have super light bits on a bike, yet the bike still weigh over 6.8kg? If the battery pack was in the bottle cage, there would need to be a physical connecting point  there somewhere visible. 

Either way, you could protect that by requesting teams to provide details of stock rider equipment, any anomolies to this and bike weights for each rider. Covered. 

I think the quote in question will have been taken deliberately out of context in order to sell books. I'd happily wager 20 english pounds that Gaimon isn't outing Cancellara in the book. 

Shock horror.

Former pro trying to sell his book who's palmares peaks at winning the Redlands Bicycle Classic calls out another former pro (who has won almost everything) for motor doping without any evidence to support his claim.

First time i've watched it and I have to say it is amazing feat for Cancellara to stay seated, turning the pedals and put in a "300m" gap in 60 seconds (2m 37 > 3m 37)

When you're in form you're in form but... to put in that big a difference between two riders at the top of their game who are leading a top flight race they both want to win... it's quite "something"

https://youtu.be/z6z7uUe0tVA?t=156

Glad he broke ranks.
Time a few more did the same.
It's not like we didn't already know anyway.

Having watched the clips it looks pretty obvious to me, very unnatural acceleration compared to very good riders around him. And back then no one was checking for this type of thing. 

I've been following Phil G with his retirement series & the guy is a genuienly nice/decent all round guy so maybe there is another "legend" that we need to cross off from our history books (which isn't leaving many!)

Can't seem to linkn out to the youtueb clips?

“When you watch the footage, his accelerations don't look natural at all, like he's having trouble staying on the top of the pedals.

“That fucker probably did have a motor,” he added.

Sounds like a literary gem...

Well that's his youtube channel unsubscribed.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nd13ARuvVE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEFqL0mbazw&t=212s

Bollocks, knew I shouldn’t have sold my shares in Pitchforks R Us.

These are the final few km of MSR 08, where FC drops the rest and solos to the win. A bit grainy, and hardly conclusive.

To my relatively untrained eye, there's nothing I can see to back up these accusations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXS-qTbR1Tk

Can anyone can dig out youtube clips of these accelerations he's talking about?