Romain Bardet tackles recent doping debate: "In Vingegaard's case that is non-news"

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.