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UCI Backs Overnight Doping Tests at Tour de France

UCI support for exceptional night testing signals a push to protect cycling’s anti‑doping system.

Cycling - Tour de France - Stage 14 - Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering - Mulhouse, France - July 18, 2026 UAE Team Emirates XRG's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the yellow jersey, and Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the polka-dot jersey, before the start of stage 14 REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
Cycling - Tour de France - Stage 14 - Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering - Mulhouse, France - July 18, 2026 UAE Team Emirates XRG's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the yellow jersey, and Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the polka-dot jersey, before the start of stage 14 REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

Overview

  • Unannounced early‑morning tests were carried out on leading riders, with Tadej Pogačar visited at about 5 a.m. and Jonas Vingegaard at about 2 a.m. on Sunday.
  • Hours after his early‑morning test on Sunday, Vingegaard crashed, fractured a collarbone and withdrew from the race.
  • On July 22 the UCI issued a public statement saying night‑time controls are exceptional but necessary and that it fully supports the independent International Testing Agency’s methods.
  • Riders’ union the CPA criticised the checks for harming rest and recovery, and the MPCC urged continued scrutiny and stronger procedural safeguards to protect rider welfare.
  • The ITA says it performed mass Athlete Biological Passport testing, including on the second rest day, and laboratory analysis of samples is pending; French legal provisions and a court ruling have been cited as enabling the overnight visits.