Why were Tour de France riders tested in the middle of the night? Anti-doping body defends need to carry out 'effective testing'

The International Testing Agency (ITA) has confirmed they carried out the nighttime anti-doping tests on Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard at the Tour de France and has defended the need to disrupt riders' sleep and recovery to carry out "effective testing".

The ITA claimed in a statement sent to Cyclingnews and other media that the tests were done with "consideration for riders' welfare, equity and fundamental rights."

"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," the ITA said in the statement.

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"However, the ITA, on behalf of the UCI, has the responsibility to ensure the effectiveness of the cycling anti-doping program and the integrity of cycling races. As such, effective testing must, in limited and justified circumstances, be capable to occur outside standard daytime hours.

"All testing activities conducted at the Tour de France and at any other international events, including decisions as to the specific timing of such tests, are carried out in accordance with the ITA’s testing strategy and subject to the safeguards established under the World Anti-Doping Code, the UCI Anti-Doping Rules and French law, with due consideration for riders’ welfare, equity and fundamental rights."

The ITA is a not-for-profit organisation, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, with a mission to manage anti-doping programmes, independently for international federations and event organisers. Cycling's anti-doping programme is funded by the different stakeholders, including the UCI, riders and teams.

Pogačar and several other riders were critical of the night-time testing, with the Tour leader going as far as suggesting that Vingegaard's lack of sleep after his 2am anti-doping test could have been one of the reasons for his crash and fractured collarbone.

Both Vingegaard and his Visma-Lease a Bike team played down the idea that the nighttime anti-doping test was a factor.

Pogačar was tested at 5am before stage 15. He revealed he has also faced other early morning tests during the Spring Classics and the Tour de France.

"It's a little bit strange, but I accept it if this is necessary to still prove we are riding clean, then if this is necessary then I totally accept it and I commit to this. But it's a bit shit when you sleep for four hours in one day in the middle of a three week Tour," Pogačar said.

Pascal Chanteur, president of the French UNCP rider association suggested that the riders were being harassed, while Remco Evenepoel called on the CPA rider's association to act.

"It is inhuman to wake us up, we had a long transfer, and to wake them up like that is pretty disrespectful," the Belgian said.

However the UCI anti-doping rules are clear regarding nighttime testing between 11pm and 6am.

"The UCI may require any Rider over whom it has Testing authority, who has not retired, including Riders serving a period of Ineligibility, to provide a Sample at any time and at any place," rule 5.2.2 explains, but goes on to clarify that "Unless the rider has identified a sixty minute testing window between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., or has otherwise consented to testing during that period, the UCI will not test a rider during that period unless it has a serious and specific suspicion that the Rider may be engaged in doping."

The ITA did not answer a specific question from Cyclingnews about any suspicions of doping in this case, saying its testing strategies remain confidential.

UAE Team Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike have both been approached for comment.

Our view

Agrees with overnight testing

Agrees with overnight testing

Patrick Fletcher

I have a great deal of sympathy for the riders in question, but shock tactics are an important tool in the ongoing fight against doping.

History tells us that anti-doping authorities are always playing catch-up, in relation to new products and also new methods of taking them. There were times when riders would inject entire bags of blood into their veins overnight, but doping practices have become far more sophisticated and, in particular, there are widespread concerns over micro-dosing, whereby substances can pass in and out of the system in a matter of hours – perhaps during a full night’s sleep.

Such night-time testing is provided for in the rules, even if some riders themselves weren’t aware. It adds another layer of thoroughness, as well as a deterrent effect. Given cycling’s dirty history and the stark difference doping can make in endurance sport, I believe the public deserves reassurance that the anti-doping system is a robust one, even more so when you have one rider and one team dominating this Tour de France. That’s not to cast aspersions on Pogačar who, to his credit, spoke openly, insightfully, and at length about the issue in his press conference yesterday. But clean sport is fundamentally important and, as Pogačar himself acknowledged, if there has to be some compromise along the way, then it’s a price worth paying.

Thinks their should be limits

Thinks their should be limits

Matilda Price

I fully agree that this sport, particularly given its history, needs stringent testing, but we need to draw the line somewhere. Riders already have to give up part of every single day of their lives to be available for testing, so the least they can be allowed is a night's sleep during the hardest race of the year. Anti-doping is crucial, but we can't let it come at the expense of the racing itself or clean riders' health – at a certain point it would become counterproductive. We could take testing to the extreme, require every rider to provide a sample five times a day if we wanted, but there are boundaries in place for a reason, and they should be stuck to.

And if the UCI or ITA do have a "serious and specific suspicion" that either Pogačar or Vingegaard are currently engaged in doping, shouldn't they come out and say that in their justifications? Being first and second overall in the race is surely not reason enough, and in fact it's bordering on unfair that those two should miss out on recovery whilst the rest of the top 10 don't.

Why test at odd hours?

While professional cycling has not seen a major doping scandal for a decade, it is theoretically possible that athletes could benefit from overnight micro-dosing of blood boosting EPO or recovery products, with any traces of the doping disappearing before daytime testing is carried out.

Before the Tour de France began in Barcelona, the ITA explained that its anti-doping strategy is "based on an adaptive risk assessment approach that integrates various dynamic factors, such as rider performance trends, to ensure strategic testing throughout the event. Insights from the ABP (Athlete Biological Passport), including the endocrine module, as well as information gathered by the ITA’s dedicated cycling team within its Intelligence & Investigations (I&I) department, inform these efforts."

ITA claimed it carried out over 360 out of competition tests in the month before the Tour de France, with 600 tests expected during the race. Samples will be kept for 10-years for potential re-analysis.

"Testing during the Tour de France will be targeted and may occur at any point during the three-week race, not just at stage finishes," ITA made clear on July 1 in a statement.

"We remain committed to protecting the integrity of the race and ensuring that all riders compete under the same rules and conditions," said ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen.

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