Remco Evenepoel has criticized the "inhuman" timing of doping tests conducted in the early morning hours at the Tour de France, following a crash that forced two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard out of the race. Evenepoel, who won stage 15, called the tests "disrespectful" and "something that actually we should not accept as riders."
Vingegaard, 29, was woken at 2 a.m. local time for a doping control before Sunday's stage, where he crashed on a tight right-hand bend. Race leader Tadej Pogacar was also tested, at 5 a.m.
"It's quite inhuman to wake us up in the middle of the night," Evenepoel stated. "It's something that actually we should not accept as riders."
Vingegaard's team confirmed he will undergo surgery for a fractured collarbone and will not continue in the Tour. The incident occurred when his front wheel slid out, causing him to fall on his shoulder. Three other riders, including Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Isaac del Toro, were involved in the pile-up, with del Toro landing on a spectator.
Pogacar suggested that the disrupted sleep from the early testing could have been a contributing factor to Vingegaard's crash. "One night and your sleep is ruined and you can be a little less concentrated on the descent," Pogacar said. "I don't blame that, but could be also a little bit connected. It's really sad to see him leave."
The International Testing Agency (ITA), responsible for the tests on behalf of the UCI, acknowledged that night-time testing can be disruptive but maintained its necessity. "The ITA is conscious that night-time testing may be disruptive to riders' rest and recovery," an ITA spokesperson told BBC Sport. "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."
This withdrawal marks a significant blow for Vingegaard, who was considered Pogacar's main rival. He had shown strong form leading into the Tour, with victories in last year's Vuelta a Espana and this year's Giro d'Italia. However, he had lost time to Pogacar on earlier stages, including the climb up the Col du Tourmalet and the stage up Le Markstein. This is a devastating end for a rider who suffered severe injuries in a crash in 2024.
Pogacar, a two-time Tour de France champion, is aiming to tie the record for most wins in the race's history this year. His team-mate Sepp Kuss and Jai Hindley were also involved in the crash but were able to continue the race.