UCI press release brushes off criticism of nighttime doping tests at the Tour de France
CyclingWednesday, 22 July 2026 at 20:51
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Follow us on GoogleThe UCI has weighed in on the the flood of opinions on doping tests at the Tour de France in an official press release. These tests were—as became apparent around the time Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the race—also administered at night during this particular Tour. According to the international cycling federation, there is nothing wrong with that.
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The UCI felt compelled to act after analysts, journalists, riders, and cycling teams continued to debate doping testing at this year’s Tour de France during the final days of the race. The news broke last Sunday when Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard announced before the start of Stage 15 that they had been tested in the middle of the night.
In the days that followed, it turned out that the International Testing Agency (ITA) had also visited many other teams. The criticism was harsh, as voices from all sides emphasized that a good night’s sleep is a crucial factor during a grueling three-week Grand Tour. A statement from the ITA did little to ease the tension. The agency focused primarily on its responsibility in the fight against doping.
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Jonas Vingegaard was tested for doping the night before Stage 15; during the stage itself, he fell and withdrew from the race.
UCI responds to debate over doping tests
The UCI is one of the organisations the ITA has been working for since 2021. And so the cycling federation apparently felt the need to respond to the criticism—which was, indirectly, directed at them. In addition to the popular one-liner that the fight against doping is a top priority for the cycling federation, they also addressed in greater detail the nighttime testing during this Tour de France in particular.
"The UCI of course acknowledges that night-time testing can disrupt riders' rest and recovery, and wishes to reiterate that carrying out such controls outside normal hours remains an exceptional measure, reserved for limited and justified circumstances," the statement reads.
So what are those circumstances? The UCI remains vague, stating only: “The fight against doping.” The UCI "supports the ITA's use of every means at its disposal to carry out its mission as effectively as possible, in compliance, naturally, with the World Anti-Doping Code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).”
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UCI will stand firmly behind ITA
If the ITA operates within the rules governing doping control in that country, then, according to the UCI, there is no problem. "The UCI considers it essential that all stakeholders unite and support the anti-doping programme in place in cycling, which is now recognised by the relevant sporting authorities as a benchmark in this field."
The cycling federation emphasizes that all parties involved in cycling collectively contribute 10 million euros per year toward “the collection, analysis and re-analysis of samples, as well as in intelligence-gathering, across events falling within the UCI's regulatory remit, including the Tour de France,” the statement continues. "The UCI will continue to support the ITA in carrying out its mission, in full and complete respect for its independence, in the service of a cleaner and more credible sport of cycling," it finishes.
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - Adam looked cooked in the TT and worse today, pero si el equipo dice que no está tan enfermo, quizá se recupera para viernes/sábado. Vamos a ver. Pogi tiene razón: un mal día y todo cambia.cyclechamp4522-07-2026
- - Can someone explain why a descent would split the peloton that much? Is it just positioning and wind, or are some teams pushing downhill? I thought the pace was “leisurely.”jeremya22-07-2026
- - Del Toro in that opening split then cruising home with the favourites? That’s maturity. Good sign for the weekend. Also, kudos to Wellens—super-domestique stuff, pacing Yates all the way when the legs had gone.tourdeforce922-07-2026
- - Not sure I buy the “nothing to ride for” line—nine minutes is a lot to hand over, even if it’s all non-GC. Could bite someone if a satellite rider sneaks back into top-The team sounds a tad complacent here.gearguru3322-07-2026
- - Pogi laughing about Jasper winning from the bunch is classic. He’s right though—Philipsen didn’t need a 40-man flyer to bag it. UAE-XRG rode heads-up: protect yellow, get Tim to shepherd Yates, and avoid needless risks on a sketchy descent split.lindae22-07-2026
- - Wait, I’m confused—if Adam Yates was really struggling, why did he attack from the peloton at all? Was it a tactical move to test the legs or just bad timing? And why would they let the gap go to 9 minutes if GC guys were chilling?patriciaw22-07-2026
- - Wild stage. UAE clearly managed it perfectly for GC while letting the break duke it out. Pogačar’s calm about Del Toro speaks volumes—white jersey and still third overall after that chaos says he’s handling the pressure.velodromevirtuoso122-07-2026
- Hey GearGuru! I am always trying to learn the team strategies....can you explain further what you mean by your analysis?? I appreciate your time.
MrYuck22-07-2026 - - Muy interesante. If they spend €10m/yr en controles y análisis, could they fund better sleep-friendly protocols too? Like pre-arranged secure wake-up windows. Balance limpieza y rendimiento, por favor.velodromevirtuoso122-07-2026
- - Honestly, feels a bit heavy-handed. Testing Pog and Vinge at 2 a.m. the night before the Queen stage could impact performance—kind of defeats the sporting fairness idea. Where’s the riders’ union in this?jeremya22-07-2026
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