Ghost in the Machine - podcast cover

Ghost in the Machine

“I truly believe that motors were used to win bike races” - Greg LeMond, three-time winner of the Tour de France.


In January 2016, 19-year-old Belgian cyclist Femke van den Driessche was caught with a collection of wires, motors and batteries buried deep inside her spare bike at the Cyclo-cross World Championships.


She was then suspended for six years and bore the wrath of global media as the only rider ever to be banned by The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for having a motor in her bike, despite numerous previous suspicions of other competitive cyclists that have never been confirmed or disproved.


Eight years later, Chris Marshall-Bell is on a mission to reveal the truth around motors in cycling as he peers beneath the surface of sports' most incredible discovery. 


Chris will unpick a tangled web of bizarre misdemeanours, claims and counter-claims. From jail time, bankruptcy and death threats to carnival cat costumes and one daring canary theft - this story is set to keep listeners on the edge of their seat.


Is motor-doping being performed at the highest level? Is this bigger than just one young woman's spare bicycle?

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Episodes

Episode 7 - We Will Catch You

Chris Marshall-Bell finally gets his man, as David Lappartient sits down with him to talk all things motors. Thanks for listening to Ghost in the Machine. There are no new planned episodes in the forthcoming months, but we will be back in the future if and when there are developments. Motor doping is an ongoing threat to cycling and perpetual vigilance is needed. Be assured that we will not stop investigating, and you can email any information or thoughts you have to motordoping@gmail.com . Host...

Jun 28, 202449 min

Episode 6 - The Inventor of Motor Doping

Chris lands in a snowy Budapest in the early hours of the morning - tired but hungry for answers... If you have any information that might aid our investigation, send them to motordoping@gmail.com. Do make sure to subscribe to Ghost In The Machine, so that you don't miss an episode. ------- In January 2016,19-year-old Belgian cyclist Femke van den Driessche was caught with a collection of wires, motors and batteries buried deep inside her bike at the Cyclo-cross World Championships. She was then...

May 03, 202444 min

Ghost in the Machine returns...

Chris Marshall-Bell and Ghost in the Machine will return very soon as we continue our investigation in Istanbul. If you have any information that might aid our investigation, send them to motordoping@gmail.com. Subscribe now, so that you don't miss a single episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 28, 20243 min

Episode 5 - Still Getting Away With It?

Host Chris Marshall-Bell speaks to senior figures in cycling - are the authorities doing enough to safeguard the sport? This podcast is now a live investigation. We've received multiple tipoffs so far - but if you have any information that might aid our investigation, send them to motordoping@gmail.com. Do make sure to subscribe to Ghost In The Machine, so that you don't miss an episode. We'll be back in a few weeks, as Chris heads to Istanbul for answers... ------- In January 2016,19-year-old B...

Feb 12, 202445 min

Episode 4 - Breaking Their Silence

Host Chris Marshall-Bell finds himself outside the home of the Van den Driessches... ------- In January 2016,19-year-old Belgian cyclist Femke van den Driessche was caught with a collection of wires, motors and batteries buried deep inside her bike at the Cyclo-cross World Championships. She was then suspended for six years and bore the wrath of global media as the only rider ever to be banned by The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for having a motor in her bike, despite numerous previous su...

Feb 05, 202442 min

Episode 3 - Cats, Pelicans... and Pigeons?

Host Chris Marshall-Bell continues his investigation on the cobbled streets of Aalst - which takes quite the turn... ------- In January 2016,19-year-old Belgian cyclist Femke van den Driessche was caught with a collection of wires, motors and batteries buried deep inside her bike at the Cyclo-cross World Championships. She was then suspended for six years and bore the wrath of global media as the only rider ever to be banned by The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for having a motor in her bi...

Jan 29, 202432 min

Episode 2 - A Hidden Conspiracy?

Host Chris Marshall-Bell heads to the Aalst, the hometown of Femke seeking answers... is she the real victim in all of this? n January 2016,19-year-old Belgian cyclist Femke van den Driessche was caught with a collection of wires, motors and batteries buried deep inside her bike at the Cyclo-cross World Championships. She was then suspended for six years and bore the wrath of global media as the only rider ever to be banned by The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for having a motor in her bik...

Jan 22, 202449 min

Episode 1 - The end of blood doping; the rise of the motor

“I truly believe that motors were used to win bike races” - Greg LeMond, three-time winner of the Tour de France. In January 2016,19-year-old Belgian cyclist Femke van den Driessche was caught with a collection of wires, motors and batteries buried deep inside her bike at the Cyclo-cross World Championships. She was then suspended for six years and bore the wrath of global media as the only rider ever to be banned by The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for having a motor in her bike, despite...

Jan 15, 202435 min

Ghost in the Machine - trailer

“I truly believe that motors were used to win bike races” - Greg LeMond, three-time winner of the Tour de France. In January 2016,19-year-old Belgian cyclist Femke van den Driessche was caught with a collection of wires, motors and batteries buried deep inside her bike at the Cyclo-cross World Championships. She was then suspended for six years and bore the wrath of global media as the only rider ever to be banned by The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for having a motor in her bike, despite...

Jan 09, 20242 min
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