Remco Evenepoel has voiced strong criticism regarding the timing of anti-doping tests at the Tour de France, describing them as “inhuman” after his victory in stage 15. The Belgian rider’s comments follow incidents where fellow competitors, including Jonas Vingegaard and race leader Tadej Pogacar, were subjected to middle-of-the-night tests. These tests occurred before Sunday’s stage, during which Vingegaard suffered a crash that resulted in a broken collarbone.
Evenepoel stated that the timing of these tests was “disrespectful” and something riders “should not accept.” He emphasised that it is “quite inhuman to wake us up in the middle of the night.” Vingegaard was reportedly woken at 02:00 local time, while Pogacar received his visit at 05:00. Vingegaard, who will undergo surgery for his injury, has withdrawn from the remainder of the Tour.
Impact on Riders and Race Integrity
Pogacar, who holds the yellow jersey, suggested that Vingegaard’s disrupted sleep due to the early morning test could have contributed to his crash. “It got me thinking, we had doping control they did [at] two in the morning [and] maybe this is also a reason,” Pogacar remarked. He added that a single night of ruined sleep could lead to reduced concentration, especially on descents, though he clarified he was not directly blaming the test for the crash.
The International Testing Agency (ITA), responsible for conducting the tests, acknowledged that night-time testing can be disruptive. However, the agency stated its responsibility to ensure the effectiveness of the anti-doping programme and the integrity of cycling races. The ITA indicated that effective testing must, in justified circumstances, be capable of occurring outside standard daytime hours.
Vingegaard, considered a significant challenger to Pogacar, crashed on a tight right-hand bend, causing his front wheel to slide. The incident also involved three other riders, including Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG team-mate Isaac del Toro and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s Jai Hindley, who continued the race. Vingegaard’s team confirmed he would have surgery “in the coming days due to the severity of the fracture.”
The Danish rider expressed his dissatisfaction with the timing of the test, noting it took him 40 minutes to return to his room and that it was “not the best night.” He added, “Of course it’s good that they test, but when it’s affecting your performance and your sleep, I don’t think it’s so good.” Pogacar also reported getting only “four hours of sleep” after his early morning visit, finding it difficult to return to sleep.
The UCI’s anti-doping rules state that any rider can be required to provide a sample at any time and place. However, an additional comment specifies that testing between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. typically requires a serious and specific suspicion of doping, unless the rider has consented to testing during that period or identified a testing window. Pogacar mentioned that this year’s testing has been “very strange” and that he asked about the 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. window, to which he was told it was a “night control.”
Pogacar, who has been tested daily since taking the yellow jersey, accepts the necessity of testing to prove clean riding. He stated, “If this is necessary to prove that we are riding clean, then I totally accept it. I commit to it.” However, he also acknowledged the difficulty of sleeping for only four hours during a three-week race, especially if it ruins deep sleep.
Stage 15 Developments
Evenepoel’s stage 15 victory was unexpected, as he managed to keep pace with Pogacar before pulling away from Del Toro. Despite being widely regarded as a strong time trialist, Evenepoel typically struggles on steep climbs. However, on the uncategorised final climb of Sunday’s 183.9km stage from Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison, he matched Pogacar’s pace for the first time on such terrain.
Evenepoel expressed his emotion after the win, stating, “I’m trembling with the emotion.” He highlighted the significance of being able to follow Pogacar’s pace, especially given past criticisms about his performance on steep climbs. Pogacar currently maintains the overall leader’s yellow jersey, holding a five-minute lead over Evenepoel, who is 58 seconds ahead of Del Toro.
Other notable performances in stage 15 included Britain’s Tom Pidcock, who was part of an early breakaway, and American Quinn Simmons, who received the super-combatif award. France’s Paul Seixas lost his youth classification white jersey after finishing fourth. Pogacar also retained the King of the Mountains jersey, while Denmark’s Mads Pedersen kept the green points jersey. Evenepoel is considered a favourite for stage 16 on Tuesday, a 26.1km time trial to Thonon les Bains.
The stage 15 results saw Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) finish first in 4 hours, 23 minutes, and 9 seconds, with Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) recording the same time. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) finished 6 seconds behind, followed by Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) at 58 seconds. The general classification after stage 15 shows Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) leading with a total time of 55 hours, 41 minutes, and 31 seconds.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
As NewsGB.org's Sports News Writer, Theo Marsden reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He began on a regional sports desk in Yorkshire. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Hull and completed an NCTJ diploma. Theo lives in Hull, where he follows the European Tour and amateur rugby. “Sport moves fast; readers deserve it right the first time.”