UCI issues statement ‘fully' backing ITA after fallout from overnight anti‑doping tests during Tour de France - after Jonas Vingegaard woken at 2am

Visma-Lease a Bike’s Jonas Vingegaard was woken up for testing at 02:00 local time on the morning of Sunday, July 19, before suffering a race-ending crash on Stage 15 later that day.

The two-time Tour winner had to abandon after breaking his collarbone and admitted afterwards that having his sleep interrupted while trying to rest and recover had "not done anything good" for him.

After the stage, UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Tadej Pogacar, who was summoned for testing just three hours after his main rival, said Vingegaard’s crash "could be a little bit connected" to his broken sleep.

The Cyclistes Professionnels Associes (CPA) then released a statement on the matter questioning the relevance of anti-doping tests through the night, and the UCI has now responded.

In the statement, the UCI "acknowledges" the disruption the early morning testing must have caused, but insists that drastic measures will sometimes be required in the greater battle against doping.

It read: "Following a number of reactions in recent days to unannounced anti-doping controls carried out by the International Testing Agency (ITA) during the Tour de France – in particular following the statement issued by the association of professional riders (CPA) – the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) wishes to respond and to reaffirm that the fight against doping is an absolute priority.

"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.

"While fully aware of how onerous such a measure is for riders, the UCI nevertheless underscores that these controls serve an overriding interest: the fight against doping.

"In 2021, the UCI entrusted the ITA with the management of its anti-doping programme – including the planning and execution of controls – in order to guarantee its independence and maximise its effectiveness.

"With this in mind, the UCI fully 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), UCI Regulations, and legislation applicable in each country for the conduct of controls (as in the present case, with the approval of the competent judge) and/or the gathering of intelligence.

"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 requirement for independence, rigour and effectiveness in its anti-doping programme comes at a cost to cycling, one borne collectively by all of its stakeholders: every year, more than €10 million is invested in 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.

"This investment reflects the UCI's determination to protect riders who respect the rules, and to relentlessly pursue the reinforcement of its arsenal against those who cheat.

"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."

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