Oct 14, 2026, 6:58 PMThe only ultra race I entered (and finished second from last) had a DQ for outside assistance. In that case it was the race leader (who otherwise would have won) in this case it’s a rather sadder story. Reading between the lines makes me wonder who was driving that van…
https://www.lostdot.cc/blog/max-aguts-tprno6-disqualification-report
@wlukewindsor I have no competitive cycling knowledge, but as a layman (who has a PhD in physics) I'm impressed by the amount of telemetry recorded and am astounded that someone would cheat (I suppose in that way) given that.
Some people don't cheat because they maintain self-respect of the competition.
Some people don't cheat because they might get caught and fear the consequences.
Some people cheat expecting to not get caught.
Then these's this.
Oct 14, 2026, 7:36 PM@virtuous_sloth Although they wouldn’t have requested his data if they hadn’t seen him holding that van so he could easily have gotten away with it (and not everyone has a power meter, certainly not required). It isn’t really telemetry - the organisers watch the gps tracks of the participants and in a big race like this they are out on the route in a car or two, but the data is in the computer on a rider’s bike - they can only see it if they ask for it. And they only ask if they have suspicions.
Most of the DQs on this kind of free route race are for riding on ‘forbidden’ roads (which are considered dangerous by the organisers).
I always thought cheating was about greed but people cheat even when there’s no prize or other reward for winning. I know that from the academic world but sometimes I’m still surprised by stories like these.
@wlukewindsor assuming it is what it looks like (& Lost Dots evidence is quite compelling)...
It's the psychology of even thinking you'd get away with this that surprises me. And that you'd take this risk given the consequences.
TCR has been running for many years & there's always been a lot of scrutiny. Especially if you're up at the pointy end.
Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised, cause motors in cyclo-cross etc...
Oct 14, 2026, 7:59 PM@markn Huge number of DQs on the last TCR (31). People completely ignore the forbidden roads rule it seems. I discovered recently how little planning some do before the event, which baffles me (there was someone I read about who hadn’t pre-planned a route at all). So some of that is just people who shouldn’t be part of the race in the first place as they are unprepared and disrespectful to the organisers. I’d be asking people to pre-register routes if I was running things (with some flex for closed roads etc).
That forbidden roads rule isn’t arbitrary, it’s to stop people killing themselves (and protect the reputation of the race).
People love to cheat. And take risks that I wouldn’t.
But there is also a problem with the TCR and similar races where the emphasis on safety is inauthentic and at odds with the valorisation of self-reliance, risk-appetite and individuality. Like mountaineering there’s a bit of real bullshit here. I have no respect at all for the bemoremike nonsense (and I saw someone who used to work for Lost Dot and I respect deeply telling someone off for using this hashtag very recently so it isn’t just me who thinks that attitude is dangerous).
The race I did had a fixed route, so that wasn’t a problem (although the constant roadworks were!)
@wlukewindsor I guess it's a very different world now than the first few TCRs. It's a shame, they felt like something special and I used to love following them. But, stuff changes. And yeah not all the folklore (or the latter day interpretation of it) seems laudable.
Like you I've only done a couple of smaller ultras. But, I managed to come proper last 😆 in Trans Alba. I think my future is more tour than half hearted race. I like looking at stuff as well as grimacing.
Oct 15, 2026, 11:15 AM@markn congratulations on beating me to a last place - I was aspiring to that but the guy behind me had a better reason to be last (that’s a longer story)
@wlukewindsor that's a shock to me btw (your comments highlighting the huge numbers of dqs etc). I wonder if this is tcr specific or the other big races see similar changes.
Oct 15, 2026, 11:14 AM@markn Because of the free route approach and the bonkers distance it’s probably unsurprising that people get DQed for riding on forbidden roads. They are pretty forgiving of errors, but very clear that persisting down a dangerous road isn’t acceptable. As you say the volume is a surprise.
It’s part of the challenge but clearly there is an issue if so many can’t manage to plan a route to avoid pre-identified roads. Some of the people attracted by TCR clearly don’t really understand it, which shows a gap between their espoused culture and reality.
@wlukewindsor only catching up to this news today. You're right, how very sad. The guy is throwing his competitive life away.
Oct 17, 2026, 5:04 PM@jbenjamint it’s so silly isn’t it
@wlukewindsor I've read that the guy has serious priors (a 4 year epo ban). It's like he's pressing self-destruct. Really hope someone is around to help him sort himself out.
Oct 17, 2026, 5:55 PM@jbenjamint Past me would have known that but I stopped paying attention to doping in cycling a few years back - but what I do know is cheats often fail to learn from being caught and punished (and not just in sport).
Of course doping is a thing still too. I just got burnt out from knowing how the sausage is made and haven’t watched professional cycle racing since. I started to follow the ultra/self-supported scene but realised quickly it was also marred by cheats on the one hand and extreme risk-takers on the other. I still pay attention a little to it but can’t really be bothered with the competitive side. And ferries ;-)
People even dope in the UK Audax scene. I’ve seen evidence of it first hand and was actually quite shocked and surprised. That’s just to finish as there are no placings… I don’t want to be riding near people off their heads on tramadol thanks… the sleep deprivation is risky enough. It’s probably rare but still it baffles me.