Swiss cyclist Cancellara laughs off claims of winning races with electric bike
By ANIThursday, June 3, 2010
PARIS - Swiss Olympic cycling champion Fabian Cancellara has laughed off suggestions that an electric bike helped him win two races this spring.
He was rubbishing criticism aired in a video about his wins at the Paris-Roubaix and the Tour des Flandres.
“It’s so crazy that I haven’t anything to say,” The Times quoted the racer, who is better known as Spartacus, as saying.
“I don’t feel like spending much time on such a stupid story,” he added.he video purported to show Cancellara allegedly pressing a button on the handlebars as he zoomed towards the finish line.
Tom Boonen, a Belgian who came second to Cancellara in Flanders, said that he gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Jean-Ren� Bernaudeau, a former racer and current director of the Bouygues T�l�com team, said he found the idea plausible.
If it can be done, I don’t see many cheats refusing to put a motor on a bike,” he said.
The International Cycling Union (ICU), the sport’s governing body, said that it was too late to check race-winning machines.
Officials said they doubted Cancellara had cheated, but added that the ICU was working on ways of scanning for secret electric power. (ANI)
