“Tomorrow, if we have a case of cheating with a motor in the bike, [I’m] sorry but it will destroy our sport.” – head of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), David Lappartient.

Cycling fever is heating up with the Tour de France just around the corner, but under the building excitement for the sport is a hidden air of scandal…

Ghost in the Machine is the investigative documentary uncovering the rise of motor-doping within professional cycling, with host Chris Marshall-Bell travelling all over Europe to discover how detrimental this could be for the sport. Now, with its final episode being released on June 28th, Chris rounds off his investigation with interviews from two of cycling’s most powerful men – as well as being driven through the perilously snowy outskirts of Budapest by an engineer who crafted futuristic motors for the sport.

Throughout the investigation, ex-professional riders have given their testimony admitting that they have always had their suspicions about motors being used in some of the world’s biggest races. Chris’ journey began with some bad, budget airlines’ coffee, as he headed for the Belgium city of Aalst to speak to Femke van den Driessche, the only competitor ever banned from the sport after being caught with a hidden motor inside her bike at a world championships in 2016. She’d turned her life around, isolating herself away from the sport, but pointed Chris in the direction of the man who’d installed the motor inside the frame, one Nico van Muylder – who said after the discovery he’d received several calls claiming to be from interested pro-cycling teams.

Since the investigation began, Chris has uncovered a redoubling of efforts to stamp out motor-doping from cycling’s governing body, the UCI. Several major figures in the organisation even admitted to enjoying the podcast – purely off the record, of course!

But, there’s a new sheriff in town: ex-FIFA and UEFA match fixing and corruption expert Nicholas Raudenski, who’s been tasked with identifying how motor detection processing can be improved in the sport. It’s clear that there is still a lot to do when it comes to stamping out cheats in an already compromised sport, but with journalists like Chris, and investigations such as Ghost in the Machine, the flame underneath these authorities has truly been lit.

Tune in for the final episode of Ghost in the Machine to be released on Friday 28th June, wherever you get your podcasts. Listen and subscribe at the link below:

lnk.to/ghostinthemachine

And if you have any further information about motor-doping that you wish to share with us, we’re all ears! Just give us an email at: motordoping@gmail.com.

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January 2016. It’s the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Belgium and 19-year-old cyclist Femke Van den Driessche is waiting at the starting line of the Under 23 Women’s race. As the tension starts to mount, with the sound of the crowds all around her and bicycle chains wiring, the tannoy calls two minutes until the starting bell. Femke is set to be the golden girl of cycling for her home country… Little did she know that this would be her final competition.

Race officials were called to inspect her spare bike and, as they removed the seat, spools of wires cascaded out from within. They revealed a motor, hidden in the seat post. Femke is the first and only person to be banned by The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for having a motor in her bike. Since that fateful race in 2016, Femke has faded out of the limelight. No more cycling, no press, no explanation.

Now, investigative journalist Chris Marshall-Bell sets off to uncover this new scandal of cycling and the truth behind Femke’s story. He speaks to people who were at the centre of the saga in 2016, including exclusive interviews with Femke Van den Driessche, and her family friend embroiled in the case, Nico van Muylder. But, is Femke really the only person to have used a motor in her bike? Or, as many claim, is this only the beginning? Do gross examples of cheating pervade even the highest levels of cycling?

Through interviews with former race winners, Chris examines how this has affected the reputation of the sport and what more can be done to stop it. Moreover, current and ex-riders reveal their suspicions around the use of motors to aid various racing victories, providing unique insight into the underbelly of cycling.

But there is so much more to this story. From peculiar tales of pigeon doping to canary theft, bankruptcy sagas, and even a carnival cat costume, the podcast explores the quirky and bizarre aspects of human nature and what individuals are willing to do to come out on top.

From the acclaimed makers of Football Ramble, Inside the Qatar World Cup and P1 with Matt and Tommy, Stak proudly presents Ghost in the Machine, a limited series releasing new episodes every Monday. You can catch up on episodes one and two and subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts.

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This article was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com

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