Vingegaard crashes out of Tour de France after ‘inhuman’ 2am doping control
Jonas Vingegaard exited the Tour de France during the first Alpine stage on Sunday. His departure followed an early morning doping control, which occurred hours before his crash. The Visma–Lease a Bike team confirmed that Vingegaard sustained a fractured collarbone and multiple abrasions, necessitating surgery in the coming days.
The incident took place approximately 20 kilometres from the end of the 184-kilometre stage, as the main peloton navigated a roundabout in Bonneville. Vingegaard, a two-time Tour winner, had also secured a victory in the Giro d’Italia earlier this year.
Nocturnal Doping Controls Spark Debate
Both Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar were subjected to unexpected nocturnal doping controls ahead of stage 15, which led to Plateau de Solaison in the Savoyard Alps. The International Testing Agency (ITA) conducted Vingegaard’s test at 2 a.m., while Pogacar’s test occurred at 5 a.m., outside the usual testing window of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Pogacar described Vingegaard’s 2 a.m. wake-up call as “inhuman” and suggested it could have impacted his rival’s sleep and potentially contributed to the crash. He noted that while he also experienced a disturbance, his 5 a.m. test allowed for more deep sleep compared to Vingegaard’s earlier wake-up.
Before the stage, Vingegaard commented on the testing, stating that while testing is beneficial, it is not ideal when it affects performance and sleep. Other teams have also reported undergoing tests as early as 5 a.m. during the Tour.
The ITA released a statement acknowledging that night-time testing can disrupt riders’ rest and recovery. However, the agency emphasized its responsibility to ensure the effectiveness of the cycling anti-doping programme and the integrity of races. They stated that effective testing must, in limited and justified circumstances, be capable of occurring outside standard daytime hours, while considering riders’ welfare, equity, and fundamental rights.
The UCI’s rules permit tests outside normal hours if there is a “serious and specific suspicion that the rider may be engaged in doping.” Pogacar noted a recent “strange” pattern in controls, with numerous visits at random hours, even at home. He expressed acceptance if such measures are necessary to prove clean riding but highlighted the difficulty of sleeping only four hours.
Evenepoel Claims Stage Victory
Despite the early morning disturbance, Pogacar’s performance appeared unaffected. He led the way up the final climb, accompanied by his UAE Emirates XRG teammate Isaac del Toro and Remco Evenepoel. However, Pogacar, a four-time winner, was unable to surpass Evenepoel, who secured the stage victory in a sprint to the finish line.
Evenepoel’s win marks his first stage victory in this year’s race and his third overall in the Tour. He expressed his excitement, stating he was “trembling from emotions” and recognizing the challenge of racing against top competitors. Del Toro finished a few seconds behind in third place.
Behind the leading trio, Paul Seixas and Florian Lipowitz, Evenepoel’s Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teammate, pursued but lost nearly a minute in the overall standings. Seixas, a rising French rider, finished fourth in the stage and is currently fourth overall, 6:23 behind Pogacar.
Vingegaard’s withdrawal means Evenepoel has moved to second in the overall standings, five minutes behind Pogacar. Del Toro is now in third place, 5:58 behind Pogacar. With four stage wins this year, a fifth Tour crown appears likely for Pogacar.
The 15th stage, which covered 184 kilometres, included a Category 1 climb up Col de la Croisette and concluded with an HC climb up Plateau de Solaison, an 11-kilometre ascent with a 9% gradient. Vingegaard’s crash occurred shortly after losing control of his front wheel, close to a roadside kerb.
Monday is a rest day for the race, which is scheduled to conclude on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on July 26. Tuesday’s 16th stage is an individual time trial, offering Evenepoel, the reigning time trial Olympic and world champion, another opportunity for a stage win.
Evenepoel, who won the Tour time trial last year, expressed confidence in his form for the upcoming time trial. He stated he would “try to go again for a stage win” on Tuesday.
Source: theguardian.com
