Froome calls for more checks against tech fraud

Melbourne - Double Tour de France champion Chris Froome has urged cycling authorities to treat technology fraud seriously and to step up checks.

Ahead of Wednesday's Herald Sun Tour race in Australia, Froome took up the issue of concealed motors after the first clear case rocked the cycling world.

A bike being used by a Belgian cyclist at the world cyclo-cross championships was seized on Saturday.

"It's a concern that I've had," Froome told reporters.

"Speaking from personal experience over the last couple of seasons, my bike has been checked and dismantled at least a dozen times," said the 2013 and 2015 Tour de France winner.

"[It's] something that I've brought up with the UCI (International Cycling Union) independent commission when I sat down with them.

"It would be my advice that the UCI implements controls and measures to start checking bikes more regularly," he said.

"I think they are taking the threat seriously and hopefully this will mean that they only increase the number of checks they do on the world-tour level."

Froome launches his season at the Herald Sun Tour with a prologue around Melbourne later on Wednesday followed by four stages concluding on Sunday.