Former Team Sky rider and 2012 Tour of Britain winner, Jonathan Tiernan-Locke is set to lead the field out in next month’s Exmoor Beast sportive, as his friends seek to “expose the injustice of his recent 2 year ban from pro cycling.” The organisers of the Tiverton based event have invited the 29 year old Tiernan Locke to their end of season sportive because they firmly believe in his innocence. 

“If the United Kingdom Anti Doping findings, or should I say lack of them, went before a court of law they would be kicked out on the grounds of insufficient evidence. At the hearing into Jon’s case, UKAD were unable to say what drug he was supposed to have taken and/or what illegal procedure he may have undergone,” says Marcus Di Vincenzo - promoter of ‘The Beast’. 

Di Vincenzo continued: “They accepted an untimely heavy drinking session - celebrating his Tour of Britain victory, World Championships selection and impending Team Sky contract - would have sent his normal blood levels rocketing off the radar. However, they didn’t accept he wouldn’t have immediately tried to rehydrate himself to bring his levels back to near normal. The truth is, he couldn’t stomach drinking gallons of water and risk throwing up in front of his newfound GB teammates. So, it’s his word against theirs but they ban him anyway, and in my book, that’s not right.” 

(Image: Flickr - Sum_of_Marc)

Having already spent what some estimate to be £35,000 trying to fight the case, Tiernan-Locke has said he cannot afford to take it to arbitration. Immediately after the ban was confirmed, Tiernan-Locke was considering turning his back on competition, saying: “After all of this, I don’t know whether my heart is still in it. I got into riding because I loved it, not because I thought it would be a great way to earn a living. I’m still a young man with plenty to offer, especially after this experience. In the meantime, I’m looking at other options” 

Di Vincenzo added: “Participating in the Exmoor Beast is one of Jon’s first options and we aim to use the opportunity to add to a petition to persuade the UCI to revisit his case and hopefully clear his name. 

Over 10,000 riders have taken up the challenge of ‘taming the beast’ since the event was launched 7 years ago, and it has since established itself as one of the UK’s premier season-closers. 

Entries close at midnight on October 12^th. For further information and to enter visit www.exmoorbeast.org.