Mechanical doping no longer something to fear in pro peloton, says Tadej Pogacar: "I think we can rest assured now"

Performances in recent years have gotten stronger and stronger within pro cycling, and that has led to increasing suspicions of doping in the pro peloton - both biological and mechanical. Tadej Pogacar believes the latter is not a concern anymore in the peloton anymore.

“Since electric bicycles became fashionable, we have seen that it is not so easy to put a motor in a bicycle. I think it would show, I don't think it's possible to hide it," Pogacar told SpazioCiclismo at the press conference hosted this Monday afternoon in Spain. The UAE Team Emirates camp hosted interviews with many riders and managers, but the Slovenian gathered the most attention. He was asked for 45 minutes about all kinds of topics, including that of mechanical doping which has been a concern for some years in the peloton.

As a result, it become a relative norm in the biggest races to have X-ray machines where bikes were tested, alongside thermal measurements of the bike in search of any possible engine that could be present in either the bike frame or wheels. Those came after Femke Van den Driessche, an under-23 cyclocross rider, was revealed to be using it in 2016. However the intensity of the testing has since lowered as no evidence was found at any point in the peloton over several years. 

“There were rumors five, ten years ago, but I don't even remember the last time I heard about it. I think we can rest assured now," the Slovenian believes.