Pogacar and Vingegaard night doping tests update - Judge authorised tests at Paris judicial court
CyclingMonday, 20 July 2026 at 17:04
A judge had reportedly approved the night time tests of Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar at the 2026 Tour de France. The general classification leaders were woken up during the night to undergo doping tests on Saturday night as their preparations for Sunday's stage 15 was disrupted.
Vingegaard was awoken at 2 am and Pogacar at 5 am for night testing, permitted during 11 pm and 6 am during the race. Come morning, multiple riders and teammates of the pair voiced their displeasure with the manner of the testing.
Visma | Lease a Bike CEO Richard Plugge acknowledged the importance of testing, but Vingegaard's teammate Matteo Jorgenson was unhappy, voicing his outrage at the move. Pogacar, meanwhile, couldn't get back to sleep as he found himself brewing coffee and listening to music earlier than planned.
L'Equipe reports that the tests were approved by a judge of liberties and detention (JLD) at the Paris judicial court after being contacted by the International Testing Agency (ITA). According to the report, the incident is the first application of provisions introduced into French law in 2015.
The judge, according to the sports code, must verify that there are "serious and consistent suspicions" that the specific riders have violated anti-doping rules or could do so. The judge must also determine a "risk of loss of evidence."
Statement on Pogacar and Vingegaard testing
"As is customary in the lead-up to the Tour de France, the public health divisions of the Paris and Marseille judicial courts, which have jurisdiction over doping matters, are in contact with the UCI (International Cycling Union) and the ITA," a statement provided to L'Equipe said.
It continued: "The judges of these two jurisdictions have concurrent jurisdiction to rule on requests for nighttime doping tests. A judge of liberties and detention in Paris was therefore indeed contacted by the ITA, pursuant to Article L.232-14-4 of the French Sports Code, to authorize the doping tests that took place on the night of July 18-19."
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The legal procedure of conducting such tests is similar to that of a search warrant in French criminal law.
At the time of testing, Tadej Pogacar led the yellow jersey race by 4:30 ahead of Jonas Vingegaard. However, Vingegaard crashed during stage 15 and left the race after sustaining a broken collarbone.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- The ITA is out to ruin and change the results of the tour, harassing riders in the middle of the night. Some one needs to investigate them. This is obvious a betting scandal going on!!. No reason for middle of the night testingcaptmike21-07-2026
- I think Pog will use TT as another rest day as his lead is so large and can extend any time he wishes in the mountains. Remco fav for TT to extend over other riders incase he has bad day in the mountains.paultryan200221-07-2026
- Latest results: @awp vs. @Andrew ... 5:0mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales21-07-2026
- Cool story bro. Love your work. 😘
Andrew21-07-2026 - Yeah you two...Zamorano and Nonfictionone... you're both right. If Pogi had wanted, he would have won, no dought, but frieders3 and Andrew don't understand that. They are living in their own imaginary world of cycling... LOL !!!mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales21-07-2026
- Renz is right and you're wrong. Yes, Pogi has gifted two stages so far. Ad acta!!!mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales21-07-2026
- Yes, Pogi was second, because he gifted Remco. Pogi also didn't want to win out of respect for his biggest rival Jonas. So yes, Pogi gifted Remco. Ad acta.mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales21-07-2026
- In your opinion. We can only be 100’% sure of 1 gift (to a team mate). The other, only Pog knows and according to his closest confidants on this very site he never gifts outside of his team.Andrew21-07-2026
- Tadej has gifted two stages so far so could be on six wins already.Renz21-07-2026
- We'll never know, but what evidence?... an anonymous phone tip from some rabid Seixas fan? Certainly not a team car full of dope and paraphernalia or a bunch of used syringes in a trash bag at the race finish.mrvco21-07-2026
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