Most Creative CHEATING Stories In Cycling History with Watts
Source: Watts Youtube Channel: Most Creative CHEATING Stories In Cycling History
Video Most Creative CHEATING Stories In Cycling History with Watts Youtube Channel
Video Most Creative CHEATING Stories In Cycling History with Watts YouTube Channel.
Most Creative CHEATING Stories In Cycling History | Watts
**Watts Youtube Channel**
Cycling Cheating Scandals: The Bizarre Stories You Didn’t Know
When it comes to cheating, cycling is a sport that has seen its fair share of scandalous incidents over the years. From riders having a string attached to a car and holding it with their teeth, to organized gang attacks, the history of cheating in cycling is filled with incredibly creative and often humorous stories. Let’s dive into some of the most bizarre cheating scandals in the history of cycling.
**The First Tour de France: Hippolyte’s Spiked Lemonade**
In 1903, the very first Tour de France took place, and with it came the very first cheating scandal. Hippolyte, widely regarded as the favorite to win, was forced to withdraw from the race midway through due to severe illness. For over a century, the real reason behind his illness remained a mystery, with countless speculations about his collapse. It wasn’t until 2016 that it was revealed that Hippolyte had been handed a spiked bottle of lemonade by a roadside spectator, causing him to suffer severe food poisoning and forcing him out of the race.
Incredibly, only a year after this incident, Hippolyte was back at the Tour de France, ready to redeem himself. In a comedic twist of fate, he was caught taking a tow from a car by holding a cork in his mouth with a string attached to the car. While he could have gotten away with it, the car driving too fast revealed his cheating plan, much to the amusement of race officials.
**The Organized Gang Attack: Maurice Garin’s Scandal**
Maurice Garin, known for both his cycling prowess and comedic flair, rose to fame as the people’s champion of the Tour de France in 1904. However, an investigation soon revealed that Garin and other top competitors had cheated their way to victory. The cheating methods involved taking a train during a stage, using itching powder on their competitors, and even organizing a gang attack on rival riders with sticks and broken glass. This scandal nearly brought the future of the Tour de France into question, and shed light on the incredible lengths some riders would go to win.
**Jin Robic’s Weight Gain Tactic: The Mercury Bottles**
Jin Robic, the first winner of the Tour de France after World War II, had a special tactic to ensure his lack of size didn’t serve as a disadvantage. Every time Robic reached the top of a mountain, his team would hand him a bottle filled with Mercury or lead under the guise of hydration. This tactic soon became a standard in cycling, allowing Robic to gain weight and effectively utilize it to his advantage during downhill sections of the race.
**Pat Boyd’s Accidental Shortcut: A Finish That Wasn’t What It Seemed**
One of the best cyclists of the 1950s, Pat Boyd, found himself unintentionally cheating in a race in Belgium. After his bike punctured a tire, a local cyclist offered him a shortcut down a narrow alley to catch up with the leaders. Little did Boyd know, the local led him into a completely different race that was coincidentally happening in the same town. Despite finishing in the top 10, Boyd was registered as a finisher in a race he never actually started. This comical incident left him finishing last in the race he was actually trying to win.
**Conclusion**
The history of cheating in cycling is filled with bizarre and often humorous stories. From spiked lemonade to organized gang attacks, riders have gone to great lengths to gain an edge. These tales of creativity and deception add a unique and somewhat comical aspect to the sport, shedding light on the extraordinary and often perplexing lengths riders have gone to for victory. While cheating may not be condoned, it certainly has left an indelible mark on the history of cycling.
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