The International Testing Agency (ITA) conducted the tests at 2am and 5am, citing anti-doping regulations.
The Paris judge specialising in liberty and detention matters authorised the night-time doping tests of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard during the Tour de France, according to Theguardian. The tests, conducted by the International Testing Agency (ITA), occurred at 2am and 5am local time before stage 15, outside the normal window of 6am to 11pm. Vingegaard, who was woken at 2am, later crashed during the stage, breaking his collarbone and forcing him to withdraw from the race.
Night-Time Testing Controversy
Pogacar, the race leader, noted, One night [and] your sleep is ruined and you can be a little less concentrated on the descent.
The ITA defended the tests, stating, The ITA is conscious that night-time testing may be disruptive to riders’ rest and recovery. Due consideration has therefore been given to minimise as much as possible the impact testing activities have on riders.
However, the agency emphasised its responsibility to ensure the effectiveness of the cycling anti-doping program and the integrity of cycling races.
Theguardian noted that the UCI’s anti-doping programme, delegated to the ITA in 2021, requires serious and specific suspicions that the rider may be involved in doping activities
to conduct tests between 11pm and 6am.
ITA’s Response and Rationale
The ITA confirmed that up to five teams, including Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Vingegaard’s Visma Lease-a-bike, had been subjected to nocturnal testing during this year’s Tour. While not specifying exact numbers, the agency stated, Other teams also have been subjected to ‘night-time’ or early morning testing.
The practice, aimed at detecting micro-dosing of performance-enhancing drugs, has drawn mixed reactions. Jonathan Vaughters, manager of the EF-Education EasyPost team, supported the approach, arguing that two am testing is one of the very effective ways to prevent peptide (EPO, HGH) and testosterone micro dosing.
Vingegaard’s crash occurred as he tackled a tight right-hand bend, causing his front wheel to slide out. The incident led to a concertina effect,
with three other riders crashing into spectators. Vingegaard will undergo surgery in the coming days due to the severity of the fracture.
His withdrawal follows a 2024 crash that left him with lung injuries and fractured bones.
Impact on the Tour and Future Implications
As the Tour de France approaches its final stages, the incident underscores the tension between rigorous anti-doping measures and the physical demands of elite cycling. The ITA’s handling of the controversy will likely shape discussions about the future of night-time doping controls in professional cycling.
Sources: BBC.
