Doping Chaperones visited the Gent Six Days on night four of the event. Belgian Iljo Keisse knows the chance of a control, as he tested positive two years ago after winning the event (he has been recently cleared, after a long battle) It wasn't the control itself that outraged the Belgian - it was rather the fact that the chaperones were trying to do their work while the race was still in full progression.
The controllers came around nine pm. In a Six Day race, not all riders are on the track all the time. "It was impossible in the breaks," said Iljo Keisse to Sporza. "In the best-case scenario, a control takes between ten to fifteen minutes. In the Six Days you have to be back on the track after five minutes."
Keisse was puzzled by the fact that a doping control takes place during the race. "In a road race this is also not possible. Or you will have to set up a tent in the feed zone," Keisse said with a laugh. "I gave my sample after the race, that has been custom for many years."
The doping controllers spoke about a misunderstanding. "We came past the racers, but only to bring them up to date with regards to the doping control," Hans Cooman told Sporza. "Riders who wanted could immediately give a sample, but the they also had the choice to wait until after the race. Then they needed to come to us at two am."
Undeterred by the commotion, Germans Robert Bartko and Danilo Hondo took over the lead after night four. The jumped from third to first after gaining a lap on Iljo Keisse and Peter Schep. Keisse/Schep have 264 points, 64 points more than Bartko/Hondo. They will just have to make up a lap on the Germans. Kenny De Ketele and Leif Lampater are third, with 239 points.
Bartko was teamed up with Keisse two years ago, when they won the event. The event finishes Sunday afternoon.