"Some teams divert its use" - Jonas Vingegaard calls for ban on Carbon Monoxide inhalation over fears of rivals using it for performance enhancing
Cycling
Ever since June, the topic of Carbon Monoxide inhalation has revolved around the top cycling teams as a dark shadow of doubt. It's possible use for performance enhancing worries the sport's fans and authorities, as some teams such as Team Visma | Lease a Bike and UAE Team Emirates - XRG have confirmed their use - but for different reasons. However Jonas Vingegaard himself has come out to request this to be banned over the concern that rivals may be using it for performance enhancing.
*NOTE: The veracity of the quotes initially shared by Le Monde may not have portrayed accurately the words of Jonas Vingegaard. Hence, we ask you to first read this article in order to get the full context of what may have happened, and we apologize for any confusion our own may have caused.
But this is a topic where a lot remains in the shadows. Visma, UAE and Israel - Premier Tech are the three teams who were reported to use it, but it has always been argued that it's used as a tool to measure fitness gains during altitude training camps.
In words to Le Monde, the Dane explained once again how the Dutch team claims to use it: "My team uses carbon monoxide to measure blood volume and total hemoglobin mass. We inhale the monoxide a first time, before doing an altitude training camp. At the end of it, we repeat the operation to calculate our maximum oxygen absorption capacity," or as it's more commonly known, the VO2Max.
However, such statement relies on confidence, which for many fans is not too high taking into consideration the incredible climbing performances from several riders in the peloton over the last few years, including Vingegaard himself. The UCI is currently pressuring the World Anti-Doping Agency to make a decision on the use of carbon monoxide, over the obvious risks it can potentially carry to the riders that use it.
Taken in small doses, it has been highly suggested that it could improve the riders' ability to increase their VO2Max, increasing the body's ability to turn oxygen into energy, and so be able to put out more power. Vingegaard himself has been asked about this subject several times since the Tour de France, but he hints at being concerned over the misdoing of rivals who may take advantage of the method.
"Some teams divert its use by regularly inhaling low doses of carbon monoxide, which causes a significant gain in performance of their riders," he states. And the Dane outright supports the ban of his method over these concerns. "This is not fair and the World Anti-Doping Agency should ban it."
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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