Belgian rider Femke Van den Driessche competed in the women's under-23 race in Heusden-Zolder, but has become the subject of an investigation after her bike was deemed suspicious. 

Van den Driessche has denied using a motor to speed up progress, in what would become the first case of its kind should it be confirmed, with the Belgian claiming the bike belonged to a friend.

Mechanical doping is viewed as a modern challenge for the UCI, who have a clause against the practice in its rules.

The UEC have now stated they will develop an action plan ahead of their annual meeting in March, which they will submit to the UCI with the aim of helping to try to prevent fraud taking place.

While the case involving Van den Driessche, who is the current under-23 European champion, is likely to go to the UCI’s Disciplinary Commission, the UEC have called for the sport’s governing body to work quickly to tackle the issue.

“The news of 30 January 2016 calls for fast, tough and effective action by all of our cycling families, especially our governing bodies,” the UEC said in a statement.

“Because the accused cyclist is a European champion, and given the considerable harm that this affair has caused to our sport in general and European cycling in particular, the UCI is consulting with legal counsel to see what action can be taken, and against whom.

“It goes without saying that the cyclist in question shall be called to a UCI disciplinary hearing to answer for her actions, but beyond this, it is essential to determine how such fraud occurred and who the accomplices were.”

The UEC have also called for UCI to step up checks before and after races in the coming weeks, focusing on the bikes and their wheels.

They believe additional checks will help to reduce suspicion and help to preserve the image of the sport.