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BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin reported for cheating during prestigious triathlon race
BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin apologised last night after being accused of cheating during a prestigious triathlon race.
The presenter and Team GB triathlete, 49, was reported to officials by a competitor who said she got unfair help from another cyclist.
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Louise — who is plugging a book about her life as a triathlete — spoke about the Snowdonia event in a TV chat with co-host Dan Walker.
The fuming triathlete slammed Louise for receiving help in a prestigious race — and told her: “You cheated!”
The breakfast host was cycling in the gruelling Slateman event in Snowdonia when a woman was said to have appeared “from nowhere” and pedalled inches in front of her, cutting wind resistance.
The tactic, called drafting, was said to have handed her a huge advantage in the race.
BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin tells co-host Dan Walker that friend Bill Turnball is remaining really upbeat
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But another woman who did the 1,000m open-water swim, 32-mile road ride and 6.8-mile run through slate quarries hit out last night.
The 35-year-old said: “It’s a hard race. During the cycling I feel like I’m dying. Louise is making out she’s done this super-duper thing and it makes me mad.
“She’s lied to people a little bit.” The woman said she saw Samantha Gardiner — a Team GB age group triathlete — riding close to Louise for five to six miles and told them: “You can’t do that!”
Afterwards she said she saw Louise being interviewed and was urged by her husband to report her, only to find others had pointed it out.
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Louise Minchin gets tongue-tied and accidentally swears live on BBC Breakfast
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Louise Minchin prepares for the Slateman Triathlon
The woman said: “Louise saw me talking to the rep and came over. I said, ‘You cheated’. She said, ‘Well, I didn’t really because I didn’t know she was going to be there’.
“I said, ‘You had a draft’! She said, ‘I know I had a draft, and I know how it looks but I didn’t cheat as it’s not like I cheated to win.”
Louise called the woman yesterday and said Samantha wasn’t a close pal and surprised her in the race.
CAUGHT IN THE DRAFT
DRAFTING is when a cyclist pedals just behind another to have an easier race by sitting in their slipstream.
Some research suggests it can save the second cyclist up to 40 per cent of their energy and cut wind resistance by more than 25 per cent.
In some races, such as the Tour de France, drafting is allowed but in many other events it is considered cheating and is banned.
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She said: “Whoever approaches me, I never say p*** off — it’s not my nature. I apologise profusely and it will change the way I race.”
Samantha tweeted a pic of herself with Louise on Monday. She said she “can’t believe” Minchin included her in her book Dare to Tri — My Journey from the BBC Breakfast Sofa to GB Team Triathlete.
Samantha, 47, yesterday denied taking part in the event and denied drafting.
British Triathlon said Louise was not under investigation.
She declined to comment last night but spoke out about the story on BBC Breakfast this morning - saying she has spoken to officials and no further action will be taken.
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