"This is a joke" - Controversy in Spain as presence of doping authorities see 130 out of 182 riders abandon local race

The Interclubs Vinalopo organization in Spain organized an event this weekend in the town of Villena which caught a lot of attention for all the wrong reasons. After learning of the presence of anti-doping authorities, there was a mass abandon streak throughout the whole peloton.

The incident is as chaotic as it is a stain in the image of cycling, a sport that in the past was perhaps permanently marked by the heavy use of doping substances. In the 90-kilometer race organized in Spain 182 riders took to the start but only 52 made it to the finish. 130 riders abandoned the race. Many claimed punctures or crashes which are said to have not been seen. For other riders who finished the race and then underwent doping tests this scenario is seen as a complete joke.

“The withdrawals are due to the doping control afterwards," Alvaro Marza, one of the participants, wrote on social media. "It is not a complicated mathematical explanation, but it is the harsh reality. I hope action is taken because this is a joke. By the way, I took the doping test three times. Hopefully I will get the results soon and I can announce them.” The event followed the recommended anti-doping procedures and the presence of CELAD (the Spanish anti-doping commission) led to this.

“We want to organize an event that revolves around clean and fair cycling. We are committed to the fight against doping and believe it is essential to maintain the integrity of the sport and protect the health of cyclists," race organizers said following the event. "Doping is cheating that gives cyclists an unfair advantage over those who compete fairly. Not only is it disrespectful to the sport and its values, but it can also have serious consequences for the health of the riders. Furthermore, we adhere to the strict anti-doping rules of the International Cycling Union (UCI). All participants in the event will be subject to random drug testing both before and after the competition.”