"All I can say is that I'm not taking anything" - Jonas Vingegaard tackles head on doping question

Doping is part of cycling's past, and to some point present, and although they don't often come, the questions on doping eventually come to the sport's biggest stars. Jonas Vingegaard was asked in a press conference after stage 15, responding accordingly.

"I completely understand the questions about it because of the past of our sport. All I can say is that I'm not taking anything," Vingegaard said at the finish yesterday in the final day of the second week. "It's true that we are going fast, and even faster than some former riders convinced of doping. But everything has changed since."

With the level in pro cycling rising over the past few years with the emergence of a new generation and further evolution in the fields of nutrition and technology, it naturally raises questions. More so as the numbers crunched up show immense climbing performances in terms of W/Kg, and frequently records up meaningful climbs are beaten - even when comparing to riders who were suspended for doping decades ago.

"The equipment, nutrition and training are very different, and that explains why performance is improving," Vingegaard continues. "But it's good to be skeptical, otherwise it could be reproduce." The Jumbo-Visma rider will enter the final week of the Tour de France in the lead of the Tour de France, the expected battle between him and Tadej Pogacar has been developing almost daily over the past two weeks, and only 10 seconds currently separate them.