The Most Shocking Moments in Cycling Ever

Cycling is considered by fans full of excitement and has delivered some of the most thrilling and jaw-dropping moments in sporting history – ever. From catastrophic crashes to dodgy doping scandals, this is a sport that has certainly had its fair share of controversy and unforgettable moments.

Lance Armstrong – Possibly the Biggest Doping Scandal Ever

Lance Armstrong was a cycling hero. He famously overcame cancer, practically all online sports betting sites had him as the odds-on favourite to win his 8th Tour de France – and he dated some pretty famous women as well.

And then it all fell apart – in what was arguably the most infamous scandal in cycling history. Lance Armstrong’s fall from grace was nothing short of shocking. This was a man who had won seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005 – and he stood accused of running one of the most elaborate doping schemes in sport.

And it turned out to be true. In 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) stripped him of every single title he won – and banned him for life. The confession he made in a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey is still one of the most dramatic moments in cycling.

The Tragic Death of Tom Simpson

Another moment that was memorable for all the wrong reasons happened during the 13th stage of the Tour de France in 1967. The promising British cyclist Tom Simpson collapsed and died while climbing Mont Ventoux – and it turned out to be a fatal combination of extreme heat, exhaustion, and, to top it off, a deadly mix of amphetamines and alcohol that all contributed to his tragic passing.

This was undoubtedly a wake-up call for the world of cycling – and was a stark reminder of how dangerous it was (and is) to take performance-enhancing drugs.

Fabio Casartelli’s Fatal Crash

That wasn’t the only time the sport has been rocked by tragedy. Another terrible moment happened during the 1995 Tour de France when the Italian cyclist Fabio Casartelli was involved in a fatal crash as he descended the Col de Portet d’Aspet.

The talented 24-year-old Olympic champion wasn’t wearing a helmet when it happened – and unfortunately, this turned out to be a fatal mistake. His death led to conversations surrounding rider safety – which eventually led to the mandatory helmet rule which was thus introduced in professional cycling.

Floyd Landis – A Fall from Grace

Another scandalous moment came courtesy of Floyd Landis – who delivered one of the most mind-blowing solo breakaways in the history of the Tour de France during Stage 17 of the 2006 race.

However, just days later, it was revealed that he’d tested positive for high testosterone levels. He was stripped of his title – but denied that he’d done anything wrong. He didn’t stay quiet for too long though and he eventually admitted to doping.

The Mysterious Disqualification of Marco Pantani

Fifth on the list is Marco Pantani, the Italian climbing legend. He was way ahead of the pack in the 1999 Giro d’Italia when he was suddenly and very dramatically disqualified for irregular blood test results – which indicated potential doping.

The decision to disqualify him was completely shocking, and he never fully recovered from the scandal. Just five years later, in 2004, he died of a drug overdose which makes his story not just shocking, but also shockingly sad.

Chris Froome Runs Up Mont Ventoux

In what was possibly the most bizarre and surreal moment ever, during the 2016 Tour de France, Chris Froome was involved in a crash on Mont Ventoux with a TV motorbike. His bike was badly damaged and he had no immediate replacement available to him – so Froome then started to run up the mountain in his cycling shoes, and this was quite the scene… one that left everyone watching it speechless.

The 1904 Tour de France Cheating Scandal

Going back over 100 years now… and the sport’s first ever major cheating scandal happened in only the second edition of the Tour de France, in 1904.

A number of the riders ended up being disqualified for taking shortcuts, letting trains do some of their ‘hard work’ – and even trying to sabotage their competitors. It was absolute carnage. The winner, Maurice Garin, ended up being stripped of his title – and this scandal almost led to the race being cancelled completely.

There’s been plenty more to speak of – and no doubt there will be plenty more to come. Who knew there was such a dark side to the world of cycling?

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