'Mechanical doping' denied by Team Saxo

TEAM Saxo Bank have angrily dismissed accusations they have developed a system which allows them to run an electric motor on their bikes.

The UCI ProTour team were responding to a recent YouTube video in which former professional rider Davide Cassani claimed Saxo Bank's Fabian Cancellara had been using a motorised system at recent events.

Swiss rider Cancellara this week batted away the speculation surrounding what has been dubbed "mechanical doping", saying: "It's so crazy that I haven't anything to say. I don't feel like spending much time on such a stupid story."

Saxo Bank joined in the condemnation of the claims last night. "Team Saxo Bank rejects all insinuations and accusations that have been made in the media regarding Fabian Cancellara's alleged use of an electric motor in his bike," a team statement read. "It is a work of fiction, disguised as documentary."