Extra doping checks at the start of stage 17 for Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates - "We are happy to participate in this"

After the performance of Jonas Vingegaard in the Tour de France's time-trial, speculation and doubts have surged through social media regarding the validity. A fruit of cycling's dark doping past, strong performances often lead to questions. The race has taken action immediately, but the team involved were happy to take part in extra testing.

“I applaud this," Richard Plugge told Wielerflits. "In fact, I also worked hard for this. In this way we are taking another step in the fight against doping. Jonas Vingegaard has had no less than four blood tests in the last 48 hours. We are happy to participate in this.” A spokesperson for UAE Team Emirates shared similar thoughts: “I think this is only good for cycling. We have no problem with this."

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PREVIEW | Tour de France 2023 stage 17 - 5400 meters of climbing and 20% climb up Col de la Loze the queen stage for Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar

The race has seen both Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar - like last year - race in a level superior to that of the rest in the climbs. Whilst UAE has Adam Yates sitting in third place, Jumbo has the likes of Wout van Aert and Sepp Kuss who have put in brutal performances throughout the past few weeks which have rivalled the best competitors of the two teams.

This morning all riders of both teams have been subjected to an extra blood test right before the start of the stage, in addition to those that are already undertaken in the peloton. Vingegaard himself said to have had 4 tests in the matter of 48 hours by team manager Plugge.

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