Romain Bardet is a rider who has throughout his career been an advocate against doping and he was recently asked about the recent events in the world of cycling and tennis. The Frenchman's response includes Jonas Vingegaard's revelation of missing an anti-doping test.
This comes as a fruit of two separate situations that have recently developed. The first of Novak Djokovic, number 1 male Tennis player who had a controversy regarding the refusal of a test before a game at the recent Davis Cup, and the other of Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard who told a story of how he missed a test back in 2019, recalling that his phone wasn't with him and the home doorbell did not work. Whilst this had no consequences, it hit headlines as the Dane is currently in an unique position in the cycling world, being the two-time reigning Tour de France champion.
However Bardet does not see this case as a huge deal, taking into consideration the testing practices in the cycling world: "It seems to me that in Vingegaard's case that is non-news. It is lax, but it can happen," he tells Ekstra Bladet. "The two situations are different, I think. Without wanting to offend tennis players and put cycling on a pedestal, we know that the treatment of such topics is different in the two sports."
Groupama-FDJ team manager Marc Madiot was very critical of the situation that developed in Tennis, arguing that if a cyclist refused to take a test, he would automatically be suspended. "Not everything is perfect in cycling and there is still a hard fight to make even more progress and to further intensify controls. This makes us a pioneer on the international stage, but it is still a daily struggle."
Bardet in the meantime is preparing for his fourth season with Team DSM-Firmenich, which is changing colours and name next year. Perhaps his last as a pro cyclist... "I don't know exactly where I will start my year yet, but I already have an idea about the Grand Tours I want to do."
"The Giro would sound good to me, but that does not necessarily mean that I will not do the Tour. In any case, I am still waiting for the Vuelta route before I make a decision," the 33-year old concluded.
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- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling for
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And we, what are we doing?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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Quelle bonne nouvelle de voir un cosponsor s’associer à @TDSM_Firmenich à partir de 2024. Merci @PostNL de nous rejoindre. #keepchallenging
Hallo, @PostNL - onze nieuwe co-titel partner! 🧡 We're proud to announce PostNL will become our new co-title partner, as we enter 2024 as Team dsm-firmenich PostNL. Welkom allemaal! 🤝🏻 Full look and feel coming 8th January 🗓️ #KeepChallenging #BijzondereMomenten
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