"The way it was done has damaged our team's image and the integrity of our sport" - Visma boss Plugge on night-time testing at the Tour de France
Cycling
The 2026 Tour de France had many highlights and one such was the night-time doping tests that were done on several riders. Amongst them were Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. Richard Plugge, CEO of Team Visma | Lease a Bike claims the team's image was damaged by the situation.
Visma's image was damaged, Plugge argues
It was only learnt later, but tests in the middle of the night had been carried out to several riders and teams throughout the opening weeks of the Tour. From 11pm. to 6am., it is not legally allowed to carry these tests so as to respect the law.
However, that on paper creates a time period in which it is possible to undergo forbidden methods of improving oneself. It is with that in mind that, besides the regular surprise doping tests; during this Tour de France extra work was done to have the judicial right to test several riders during this period.
Overnight from stage 14 to 15, on the eve of one of the Tour's queen stages, both Pogacar and Vingegaard - then first and second at the Tour - were woken up in the middle of the night for testing, severely disrupting their recovery process which earned plenty criticism from both teams.
But aside from that, criticism flooded in by the fact that some of their rivals hadn't been, providing a sporting advantage. Aside from that, the timings of the tests are only allowed if there are valid suspicions, legally speaking.
But the situation is more nuanced than at first interpreted. “We understood that these tests should not be seen as a sign of suspicion towards us, nor interpreted as proof of a rule violation, at least not for our team,” Plugge said in words to L'Équipe. “On the one hand, it means nothing, but on the other hand, it’s important to emphasize that it was simply a test, a check.”
"I support all testing, the entire fight against doping, and the fight for fair competition, and that's why, as president of the AIGCP (Association of Professional Cycling Teams), I worked to implement a cutting-edge anti-doping policy with the ITA".
However, this bruised the team's image, which has been connected to doping strongly because of the exposure that the event gathered. "It's good that there are so many tests, but the way it was done has damaged our team's image and the integrity of our sport, because it has brought back the 'D' word".
Jonas Vingegaard was woken up overnight from stage 14 to 15 so as to get tested for prohibited substances
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Although it was an organized search for the use of prohibited methods, Plugge argues that all riders should've underwent the same tests in the same way, at risk of neglecting the efficiency of the search itself.
“I believe that in trying to preserve sporting integrity, they ended up compromising it with these different methods and timings for each rider, and I think the race was influenced by that".
"We have to be careful not to damage the image of a team, or that of the sport itself, through this fight. We really need to think about how we can avoid tarnishing this image, while preserving the cutting-edge methods that characterize cycling.”
Ultimately, the results of the tests will only be made possible if there is anything positive; whilst as usual, if it is not the case, it remains a private matter.
“If there’s a need to conduct nighttime tests, they have to do them, regardless of whether it’s before a major mountain stage or not. But in that case, they should test the entire top 10, the same treatment for everyone, not one rider at 2 a.m., another at 5 a.m., and the others a week before or after. It gives the impression that you’re targeting one rider or another more than the other.”
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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- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
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