Double Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard was forced to abandon the race on Sunday following a crash during stage 15, an incident that occurred just hours after he underwent an unannounced doping control in the early hours of the morning. The Dane, who also won this year's Giro d'Italia, was seen gingerly entering a race ambulance with his right arm in a sling after falling as the main peloton navigated a roundabout in Bonneville, on the approach to the Alpine climb of Plateau de Solaison.
Both Vingegaard and race leader Tadej Pogacar were subjected to unexpected nocturnal doping tests prior to the stage. Vingegaard reported being tested by the International Testing Agency (ITA) at 2am, stating before the stage, "I was sleeping very well, but somebody knocked on my door at 2am. It's good that they test, but when it's affecting performance and your sleep, I don't think it's so good." The exact cause of the crash, whether due to fatigue or a sudden movement within the peloton, remains unclear.
Following a brief pause, the race resumed. On the steep final climb, Remco Evenepoel, with Pogacar and his UAE Emirates XRG teammate Isaac del Toro, pushed to the front. Despite Pogacar's formidable reputation, he was unable to overcome Evenepoel, who claimed a significant stage victory in a sprint finish. Behind them, Paul Seixas and Evenepoel's Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teammate, Florian Lipowitz, lost nearly a minute in the overall standings.
The circumstances surrounding Vingegaard's dramatic exit have ignited widespread anger within the peloton. Many riders have expressed dismay at the timing of the doping tests, particularly given the critical importance of rest between demanding mountain stages. Vingegaard's teammate, Matteo Jorgenson, described the situation as a "complete lack of respect for the riders," while Olympic champion Evenepoel also questioned the legality of 2am testing, stating, "They told me that it supposedly happened at two o'clock in the morning. That seems very strange to me, because that is not allowed according to the rules."
Richard Plugge, Vingegaard's team manager, acknowledged the importance of anti-doping efforts but conceded that a 2am test was "not ideal." He added, "The ITA will have their reasons for this. We have to follow suit." The incident is likely to prompt further discussion and potential scrutiny regarding the protocols and impact of anti-doping procedures on athlete welfare and performance in major sporting events.