In 2010, former cyclist
Davide Cassani claimed in a
YouTube video that Fabian Cancellara had used a
motorized bike during his victories at the Tour of Flanders and the Paris–Roubaix that year.
[127] In the video, Cassani showed a normal road bike on a stand and after he pressed a button, the pedals began to rotate.
[127][128] Cassani then alleged that a motor could easily be stowed in the seattube of the bike and the button to turn it on would be located on the handlebars.
[128][129] In the YouTube video, Cassani showed clips of Cancellara at the two races allegedly "turning on" the motor while riding and showing the drastic increase in speed.
[128][129] The claims caught steam since rumors were already going around about riders possibly using the new motor, the Gruber Assist, which could produce 100 Watts of power to aid the rider.
[130] Critics of the motor-theory often say that the Gruber Assist was way too noisy that time and in solo ride or a smaller group it could have surely been heard when turned on
The
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) stated that whilst they are not investigating any specific teams or riders, it would review the need for a new bicycle inspection system to detect such cheating.
[127] Then UCI stated that there was no case against Cancellara after the claims gained prominence.
[128] Cancellara dismissed Cassani's claims saying that they were "stupid" and far too risky to do.
[128][132] He even told the Belgian newspaper
Het Nieuwsblad that he had "never had batteries on [his] bike."
[128]
During an April 2017 press conference, just before his final Ronde van Vlaanderen,
Tom Boonen was asked if it was always the strongest rider who wins the Tour of Flanders. "Yes, most of the time", he said. "In every race like that, it is not always the strongest that wins, but most of the time it is. In Flanders, I can’t really recall one year... Well, I can recall one year...” When asked what year he was referring to, Boonen smiled and replied "No comment". On 6 April, two days before the 2018 Paris-Roubaix, Samuël Grulois of Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF) asked Boonen if he believed Cancellara had used a motor to beat him in 2010: "Did Cancellara steal the 2010 Flanders due to a motor? Is there any doubt?” Boonen replied "Yes," and added "But it’s not for me to say. I finished second, and it’s not the one in second who has to say the situation is not normal. It’s very difficult to prove because we do not have the bike to check. It’s too late"