Tour riders slam 'inhuman' 2am doping test after Vingegaard crashes out of Tour de France in stage 15

Late-night controls spark outcry

Jonas Vingegaard was woken at 2am on the morning of Sunday's stage 15 for an unannounced doping test. Yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar was tested at 5am the same day. Both times fall outside the usual window of 5am to 11pm. The UCI rulebook allows night testing only when there is 'serious and specific suspicion that the Rider may be engaged in doping.' The International Testing Agency plans to collect 600 samples during the 2026 Tour.

Vingegaard's Tour ends in ambulance

The two-time winner misjudged a corner with 20 kilometres remaining and crashed, fracturing his right clavicle. His Visma-Lease a Bike team confirmed he requires surgery. Vingegaard, who had never abandoned a Grand Tour in six participations, told Danish broadcaster TV 2 Sport: 'It is very disappointing for us to go out this way. Luckily it is just a broken collarbone.' He cited a possible error by an accompanying motorbike but added: 'We cannot rely on the motorbikes. We have to use our own judgement.' He was sitting second overall, 4 minutes 30 seconds behind Pogacar.

It's pretty disrespectful. To be honest, I would send my team to wake the tester up at 2am.

Riders condemn disrupted sleep

Remco Evenepoel, who went on to win the stage, called the controls 'inhuman' and 'disrespectful.' Pogacar, while accepting testing is needed, described his 5am wake-up as a factor. 'If Jonas was tested at 2am he probably slept less than four hours, or his deep sleep was ruined,' the Slovenian said. Pascal Chanteur, president of the French riders' union UNCP, told France Info the practice amounted to 'harassment.' 'On a Tour de France, testing a rider at 2 or 5 in the morning, is that really reasonable for recovery and health?' he asked. The peloton enjoyed a rest day on Monday before the final six stages.

Official responses

Tour director Christian Prudhomme told Radio France that 2am and 5am testing 'can seem surprising' but stressed the ITA's independence. 'We fought for years to have an independent agency, and we have an independent agency,' he said, while adding he understood the riders' reaction. The ITA itself acknowledged the tests 'could have disturbed the rest' of the two riders but maintained they followed proper procedure.

I couldn't get back to sleep, so I listened to old Eminem songs and made myself coffees with too much caffeine.

Stage 15 results and new standings

Evenepoel took the summit finish at Plateau de Solaison, beating Pogacar and Isaac del Toro. The Belgian's victory moved him into second overall. Del Toro rose to third after being involved in Vingegaard's crash but continuing. Florian Lipowitz lost 58 seconds on the final climb yet still climbed to fifth overall, 50 seconds behind del Toro. Germany's Max Kanter advanced to fourth in the points classification after Tim Merlier's withdrawal. Pogacar retains the yellow jersey with a commanding lead entering the rest day.