The Origins of Cheating in Cycling

The history of cheating in professional cycling dates back to the inaugural Tour de France in 1903, where Hippolyte Okuturier became a victim of sabotage through a spiked drink. This incident led Okuturier to devise a bizarre cheating scheme involving being towed by a car, highlighting the lengths to which athletes may go to gain an edge. Over the years, various methods of cheating have emerged, including the use of performance-enhancing drugs, most notably seen in the infamous case of Lance Armstrong, who dominated the sport from 1999 to 2005 while evading doping tests. Although there have been improvements in anti-doping measures following Armstrong's downfall, the persistence of cheating in cycling showcases a tension between competitive spirit and fair play.