Riders in the Tour de France were woken up in the middle of the night for unannounced doping tests, sparking criticism from competitors. The tests took place early in the morning hours, with some riders getting up at 2 a.m. or 5 a.m. The defending race champion Tadej Pogacar and his main rival Jonas Vingegaard were among those tested. Vingegaard was woken at 2 a.m., just before a mountain stage that ended in a crash. He broke his collarbone and had to withdraw from the race. Pogacar said he got only four hours of sleep after being tested at 5 a.m.
The International Testing Agency, which runs anti-doping checks for the UCI, explained that nighttime testing is allowed under certain conditions. The agency said it understands that such tests may disrupt rest and recovery. However, it also pointed out that effective testing must sometimes happen outside normal hours to protect race integrity. The ITA noted that these controls are based on risk assessments and follow international anti-doping rules.
Some riders strongly criticized the timing of the tests. Remco Evenepoel, who won the stage, called the early wake-up “inhuman.” Vingegaard said he had been sleeping well before being interrupted. He added that the test likely affected his performance and could have contributed to his crash. Pogacar also questioned why the test was scheduled so early. He later said he accepted such testing if it helps prove clean racing, but noted the disruption to sleep is frustrating.
The tests were authorized by a Paris judge. The request came from the ITA, which sought permission to conduct checks outside normal hours. According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, judges have authority over these kinds of requests. The UCI has given the ITA responsibility for anti-doping efforts since 2021. The agency said it tries to limit how much testing impacts riders’ rest. Still, it emphasized that ensuring fair competition is a top priority.
The practice of early testing was defended by former cyclist Jonathan Vaughters. He argued that such controls could have caught widespread doping years earlier. Vaughters, who admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs in his career, said early morning checks are especially useful for detecting short-term use of substances like EPO and growth hormone. These drugs can be cleared from the body quickly, making regular daytime testing less effective.
Several teams were reportedly tested during the race. Pogacar’s team UAE Team Emirates XRG and Vingegaard’s Visma Lease-a-bike were among those affected. The ITA confirmed that early morning controls happened more than once during this year’s Tour. While no exact number was given, it said other teams also underwent nighttime checks.
The results of these tests will not be released until after the race ends. The ITA explained that only cases involving clear violations would be made public. This year’s Tour concludes in Paris on Sunday evening. Riders and officials are still discussing how to balance effective anti-doping efforts with athlete well-being.
IMAGE: A collected peloton in the 2006 Tour de France User:Seckelberry CC BY 3.0
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