Tadej Pogačar reflects on the 5am doping control at the Tour de France with 'stranger examples' from recent years
CyclingMonday, 27 July 2026 at 00:00
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Follow us on GoogleIt was one of the topics of discussion during the recent Tour de France: the nighttime doping tests on Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, just before the stage to Plateau de Solaison. At the closing press conference in Paris, Pogačar was asked once again about that topic, which—to his credit—he did not shy away from.
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Ahead of Stage 15, a grueling mountain stage finishing at Plateau de Solaison, Vingegaard was woken up at 2 a.m. and Pogacar was roused from his bed at 5 a.m. “I thought it was extreme that Jonas (who, incidentally, withdrew from that stage—ed.) had to be checked at 2 a.m. 5 a.m. is also early, but that’s still manageable. We’ve been through crazier things.”
"Do I feel suspicious? Since my first Tour in 2020, we've been through the strangest checks," the Slovenian explains to the international group of journalists. “For example, we were checked very often before difficult mountain stages—I think four or five out of the seven times I competed. And I’m talking about them standing in front of the team bus half an hour before the stage,” he said.
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Read more below the photo!
After the Tour, Tadej Pogacar spoke about the doping tests he underwent during the race.
Pogacar on doping tests: 'It's like going to the supermarket'
"I find those examples a bit stranger, but then again, they're just doing their job," he says, holding no grudge against the people who conduct the tests on behalf of the ITA. “For me, it’s just part of the routine now: when there’s a knock on my door early in the morning, my first thought is always, ‘Here comes the doping test,’” Pogacar explains.
"For me, it's like popping over to the grocery store; it's nothing special anymore. Because I've had so many of them over the past few years," the five-time Tour de France winner said at the end of the race.
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Tom van der Salm (27) comes from the charming town of Zeilberg (Deurne) in the Netherlands and has been working as editor-in-chief & journalist at IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, In de Leiderstrui, since 2019. He travels with the peloton from the Tour de France to the AlUla Tour and from the World Championships in Rwanda or Canada to the Zilvermeercross in Mol. In his spare time he enjoys playing football, mountain biking, running, walking with his Labrador/Stabyhoun, investing, holidays, (specialty) beers, reading, cooking and watching sports & documentaries!
Contact: [email protected]
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Latest Comments
- - Wow, second place already? How big was the time gap to first in the end, and does that come mostly from the mountain stages or time trial? Gracias por la info, très curieux!sprocketspiny26-07-2026
- - Great piece overall, but quoting Vanthourenhout while noting he’s not on Tour duty with Remco feels odd. Would love more insight from BORA’s actual in-race DS.gearguru3326-07-2026
- - The idea that next year’s route with a 50 km TT flips the script is interesting. If ASO gives us that, Remco starts as 1A contender. But he still needs a mountain train that can blunt UAE’s tempo.michael5426-07-2026
- - “He should have gone sooner” is always easy to say. Carapaz was flying. Remco emptied the tank late and nearly bridged — fine margins at the end of a brutal Tour.andrewf26-07-2026
- - From third last year to second now, plus a stage tally that could’ve been three — that’s progression. BORA’s support looked miles better too, even after the Alpe d’Huez spat. Winning the Tour one day doesn’t look crazy.julien26-07-2026
- - Can someone explain why a longer time trial would help him that much? Is he that much better than Pogacar in TT over 50 km?jeremya26-07-2026
- - Not sure I buy Herygers’ “loyal to Pogačar” angle. Remco races to win. If he had the legs 5 km earlier, he goes. Feels like Monday-morning quarterbacking.pedalpowe2926-07-2026
- - Massive ride from Remco. Second overall and second on the queen stage isn’t “almost” — it’s elite. The way he paced that final 3 km was smart given the UAE/Decathlon tug-of-war behind.patriciaw26-07-2026
- - Pog is on another planet. Even rivals would doubt him? That quote from Gianetti is blunt but honest.julien26-07-2026
- - So if Cobo’s Vuelta got stripped for blood passport issues, why did it take so long? Feels like the system punishes fans retroactively. Confusing tbh.patriciaw26-07-2026
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