Greg LeMond opens up about his long-held belief that motorised bikes were used in professional cycling races until recently, sharing specific race analysis and conversations with pros that convinced him something unnatural was happening. He explains why he's chosen to speak publicly about controversial topics in cycling—from doping to potential motor use—rather than stay silent like some former pros, and discusses what that choice has meant for his credibility and career.
Key Takeaways
- Unexplained gaps closing in under 300 metres during sprints (like at Tour of Flanders) and unnatural RPM patterns in publicly released race data suggest motorised bikes may have been used in recent cycling history
- Multiple bike changes per stage were likely a cover for motor use—the frequency was illogical if equipment quality was actually the issue, as component manufacturers like Shimano produce reliable gear
- Chris Froome's Strava file from Mont Ventoux shows inconsistencies between wattage output and acceleration that don't match normal human physiology, particularly high cadences (110+ RPM) on climbs
- New UCI president David Lappartient took motor concerns seriously, and the absence of suspicious RPM patterns and excessive bike changes since then suggests the issue may have been addressed
- Commentators and former pros face career pressure to stay quiet on controversial topics, unlike journalists who can pursue truth without losing broadcasting jobs
- LeMond feels fortunate he loved cycling enough not to turn pro in the EPO era—he acknowledges the impossible ethical position riders faced when doping became systemic
Expert Quotes
"I truly believe Motors were used in a lot of big races until very recently it was a real deal"
"I know what I've ridden the motor. I've seen what's happened with it and I know Insight I know who I believe was using it"
"It's there's so many unnatural things there now if you go back today and watch some of the performances that period the RPM prints sound insane and remember there is no efficient nobody's efficient at 110 RPMs up a climb ever"
"I was so passionate about the tour that I didn't have to turn pro because I don't know what I would have done. I really I'm not going to say I would have been better than everybody else"