“Every podium contender should receive the same treatment”: Richard Plugge demands answers after Jonas Vingegaard's late-night anti-doping test
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike CEO Richard Plugge has called for greater consistency in anti-doping controls after Jonas Vingegaard underwent a night-time test just hours before his Tour de France ended. While reaffirming his team's commitment to strict anti-doping measures, Plugge argued that all general classification contenders should be subject to the same testing conditions.
Plugge defends anti-doping but questions consistency
Plugge remained silent during Monday's rest day following Vingegaard's overnight anti-doping test and subsequent crash-induced withdrawal from the Tour. Speaking before Tuesday's individual time trial, however, the Visma | Lease a Bike boss addressed the controversy in detail.
The Dutchman began by highlighting his team's long-standing commitment to clean cycling. “In 2012, I named the team Blanco [meaning white in Spanish] because we wanted to start with a clean slate and leave the dark past behind us,” Plugge said in words gathered by L'Équipe.
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He argued that the squad has consistently supported stronger anti-doping measures. “Since then, as a team, we have had a very strict, very rigorous policy against doping, and we were among the first to push the International Testing Agency (ITA) to be at the forefront of testing and prevention. We have worked very hard on that.”
However, Plugge questioned why only certain riders appeared to be targeted with overnight controls. “On the other hand, all the other general classification contenders should be subject to the same strict rules, let's say the top ten, at the same time.”
Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar chat before the start of a stage at the 2026 Tour de France
Visma seeks answers from the ITA
According to Plugge, Visma has formally requested an explanation from the ITA regarding the timing and selection of the overnight tests.
“We have asked the ITA these questions: can you explain why there was different treatment? Why was only one rider (Vingegaard) tested at 2 a.m., apparently another rider at 5 a.m. (Tadej Pogacar), and why not the rest of the top ten?”
For Plugge, equal treatment is fundamental to maintaining trust in the anti-doping system. “If you want to safeguard the integrity of the sport, every podium contender should receive the same treatment, in my opinion.”
At the same time, he made clear that he is not opposed to overnight testing itself. “The purpose of anti-doping is that everyone is treated equally. And if the ITA believes that night-time controls are the best way to proceed, then that is probably the best way.”
Plugge said he hopes to receive a response from the ITA before the Tour de France concludes in Paris.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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- I hope 2027 is his year.mij03-11-2026
- why does he have to? many GT riders from Froome to Contador to Indurain didn't do them.mij03-11-2026
- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026
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