Ultracycling

Yeah thinking about it more maybe it’s like, “remote assistance team”

Maybe they should have called it digital assistance so it's clear it wasn't his wife following him around with the camper van.

Yeah I think so. I'm interested to know how it's come out. What I don't understand though is how in light of this info he's only been given a 28 hour penalty and not disqualified?

My first assumption was that it was using Siri or something to help, which I’d have thought would fall under “available to all participants” and would be ok

Wouldn't be the first time.

Thomas Günsel or his he the new leader based on someone else being demoted?
https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/transiberica24/?lat=43.266107&lng=-2.945199&z=14

I wondered what the "virtual assistance camp" thing was. If it's someone booking him stuff, how was he busted? Other riders heard him on the phone with his "team" or something?

Same thing happened in TABR a few years ago when the winner almost certainly had their partner doing a bunch of hotel booking and wake up calls and stuff. People even write about their home 'support' telling them about weather and ringing to wake them up and stuff. It's not uncommon.

https://www.instagram.com/transiberica_club/p/C_TrdcTO7_o/

"Congrats to the first finisher of TI24 WITH ASSISTANCE 👏👏👏 Incredible performance to you and all your team"

Haha guess so

I'm sure it has happened before, but how many have threatened with legal action?

That I can't answer.

What kind of bellend threatens legal for being DQd from an event with no prize though? This fella must be a prime prong.

yeah thats the most bewildering bit. there's no prize, the only thing you stand to gain is clout. suing for clout is surely just a way to make sure as many people as possible hear about how much of a cunt you are

Kind of think there must be more to it? It’s not like this is his first race, he’s got some experience doing these sort of events (at the pointy end too) so I’m sure he’s well aware that you can’t have someone at home sorting everything out for you. Be interested to hear his side.

Yeah, kind of like the Streisand Effect, his name will be tethered to "that shitcunt that sued after cheating" and their results, if any, will be totally submerged.

Obvious answer is that he was doing the same in other races but didn't "win" and didn't get caught cheating so it was non-news.

How very cynical 😀. But yes, you could well be right. Still curious to know how it’s come out.

So far I've only seen this on his Strava where he deletes anyone who comments.

For anyone who stumbles upon my activities because of the way the organizer communicates - I ask you to refrain from commenting. I will not communicate this way.
If you feel the need, please write to me objectively and I will explain my side within an appropriate framework. Then they can form an opinion. Everything else is based on hearsay and half-knowledge. Thanks!

(Google translate from German)

Unfortunately for him, "heresay" is exactly how athletes protect the rules in these events.

I've reported rule breakers in the past and I will continue to do so. Yes, it's my word against someone else's but it only takes 2 people seeing the same thing to make it look pretty fucking obvious someone was cheating.

Organsiers aren't going to throw shade like this for shits and giggles.

Ok who is going to write to him and get the dirt? 😄

Sounds like you’ve volunteered 😀

Ah a fellow German. Let's find his strava.

Seems like his profile isn't public if it's the Günsel guy.
I mean, cheating is one thing. But legal action when you get a penalty (not even a dq) is really something. And he looks like an idiot.
Reminds me of if the TCR person that started as a pair and finished solo. Is she still complaining?

No-one has mentioned his name, but I assume it is Thomas Günsel, no? If so I hadn't heard of him before.

Hard to see organisers of other events rushing to accept his entry if he gets lawyered up when things don't go to plan.

I might flip Carlos a message of support as I expect it probably is a bit scary getting sued, even if it's hard to see it going anywhere.

No-one has mentioned his name

Do you have me on ignore?

Sorry - skim read the thread and missed that!

Yeah, kind of like the Streisand Effect, his name will be tethered to "that shitcunt that sued after cheating" and their results, if any, will be totally submerged.

Didn't seem to damage Petervary that much (or was all the drama just BS?)

I guess if he's pushing back so much, he clearly thinks he's done nothing wrong. Maybe someone who speaks German can ask him like he suggests