Cycling: Huge clash around mechanical doping!
A huge controversy opened up in the world of cycling after the suspicions clearly expressed by Jérôme Pineau, the former general manager of the B’B Hôtels team, on RMC regarding mechanical doping at Jumbo. Words which provoked a reaction from the Dutch team.
Last Sunday, while he participated in the show The Big Mouths of Sport on RMC, Jerome Pineauformer rider and former general manager of the team B’B Hôtelsclearly expressed his doubts about mechanical doping within the team Jumbo Visma. Pineau notably launched, in comments relayed by cyclismactu.net : « We see images… I’m not talking about doping but worse than that. Mechanical ? Yes, mechanical. The acceleration of Sepp Kuss in the Tourmalet two days ago, at 10km/h faster than the group in front of him where there were nuggets like Juan Ayuso… Kuss arrives 10km/h faster. There is a spectator who takes a step forward, he brakes and leaves 10km/h faster. In the Tourmalet. How do we explain this? How can you explain this to me? I’m scared, it worries me greatly. I see things… I don’t know how we do it and I wonder. I was in this environment not long ago and the discussions around the buses were not about what they were doing during their internship. And it wasn’t just the small teams that were complaining ». Jerome Pineau continued shortly afterwards: “ In the Col de Spandelles, I saw Sepp Kuss 10 seconds without pedaling. I don’t know how that’s possible. (…) They pedal four times and gain 10 meters. How do they do it? ».
Cycling: Alaphilippe-Evenepoel, the consequences of the Vuelta https://t.co/HXitQt1jhb pic.twitter.com/Wec3rBslRo
— le10sport (@le10sport) September 12, 2023
“They pedal four times, they gain 10 meters, how do they do it? »
This reflection from a former team general manager, who was still active last year, had the effect of a bomb in the world peloton, at a time when the Jumbo Visma dominate the Vuelta head and shoulders, with Sepp kiss overall leader and the duo Roglic-Vingegaard just behind, everyone being in every position to win the race.
The response from Jumbo-Visma was quick
In recent hours, the Dutch team has been keen to respond to Jerome Pineauthrough the team’s senior sports director, Mary Zeemanwho sent a reaction text message when he was contacted by the site globalcyclingnetwork.comexplicitly referring to the team’s rather chaotic ending B’B Hôtels at the end of last season: “ Comments from a manager who signed several riders and staff members, then it turned out in October that he was fooling everyone and putting all those people in a bad position? Can this person talk about others? “. A controversy which could well continue to rebound.
