"Somewhere today he will have surgery" - Visma DS provides Vingegaard update and addresses talk midnight doping test may have factored into crash

Team Visma | Lease a Bike sports director Marc Reef has provided an update on the condition of their team leader, Jonas Vingegaard, confirming that the Danish rider will undergo surgery on a broken collarbone sustained on Sunday's stage 15 of the 2026 Tour de France.

The Visma leader was sat 2nd overall going into the stage, but crashed out of the Tour de France after falling while exiting a roundabout, hitting the deck hard as it became clear in the immediate aftermath that the two-time winner would not be continuing the race.

"He was of course, very disappointed to end the tour like this. He felt great also that day. We had the race in our hands, and we were ready to give it a shot with him," Reef told TNT Sports ahead of the start of the stage 16 individual time trial.

"To lose everything like this, it's a big blow," added the Visma DS. "He travelled home yesterday, and somewhere today he will have surgery on his collarbone. After that, we will come with an update."

One theory muted as to a potential reason for the crash was the middle of the night doping check both Vingegaard and main GC rival Tadej Pogacar were subjected to the night/morning before the stage.

In response, a diplomatic Reef answered: "I think it's also something about the timing of the control. It's not something where I want to speculate about. Because on one hand, it is good for the sport that things like this are happening."

Whilst Reef admitted the practice of surprise doping tests through the night had merit, he also highlighted a potential flaw in the system. "Good for the integrity. But at the same moment, it also harms the integrity a little bit. Because it's also not fair that you test on random times during the night, that you test riders," he explained. "And I think that's also for the competition not too good. But for sure it is good that the tests are taking place and that we are completely behind."