"I find it almost inhuman and insane" - Tadej Pogacar's domestique livid following doping tests at five in the morning

Cycling
Sunday, 19 July 2026 at 15:21
Collage_FlorianVermeerschTadejPogacar
The Tour de France is currently on fire, both on and off the bike. Whilst Tadej Pogacar is currently leading the race and carrying the yellow jersey, he is being tested on a very frequent basis for forbidden substances. But within UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Florian Vermeersch was not afraid to harshly criticize the decision to carry out a test a 5am.

'Inhuman and insane'

This Sunday at dawn, there was activity at the team hotels of UAE and also Team Visma | Lease a Bike. In order to try and assure that no-one is escaping with specifically-timed methods, doping tests were carried out at 2 and 5am respectively for Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar.
This timing has led to widespread criticism from other figures in the peloton, but mainly within the two teams. The disruption of recovery could end up affecting the race in a very real way, whilst it is argued that the tests could've been carried out outside the midnight to 6am time slot in which it is typically forbidden to carry them out.
“Tadej handled it well, but I find it almost inhuman and insane. As far as I know, it is also the first time he has been woken up so early for this," Florian Vermeersch shared with Het Laatste Nieuws.
The UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider, often honest about his opinions publicly, was not afraid to defend his teammate amidst a very controversial situation. "People will say that we are complaining and whining. But it is ridiculous".
Florian Vermeersch was livid with the doping authorities mid-night test on Tadej Pogacar
Florian Vermeersch was livid with the doping authorities mid-night test on Tadej Pogacar 

Will adversity feed the yellow jersey?

The stage to Plateau de Solaison, taking place this Sunday, can be crucial for the overall classification and that is part of the reason why the timing of the decision has been taken so harshly.
Pogacar has said that he slept only a few hours, and couldn't get back to sleep after having been awaken at five in the morning. The Belgian rider tried to finish off with an optimistic statement regarding his team leader.
"I think Tadej only slept five hours. Is he extra motivated? Who knows. Maybe it gives him energy," he concluded.
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