Cycling is a mechanical sport, mechanical sports are a competition that test both the machine and the people who design and build it as well as the human operat

Cycling is a mechanical sport, mechanical sports are a competition that test both the machine and the people who design and build it as well as the human operating it. There are competitions where everyone is given the same machine to put emphasis on the human performance. In cycling for instance, Japanese "Keirin" racers all use the same low tech steel bike that they maintain themselves. Anyways, money is always going to matter. More money gives you better training, better nutrition and medical support, better equipment and can allow athletes to focus exclusively on their sport by offloading them from the usual chores. In teams sports, also better teammates. There is no way around it, but it doesn't mean the athletes lose merit, even with performance enhancing drugs, it takes a lot of effort and dedication to come out on top.