Nighttime doping tests at the Tour: Lappartient: "Only in exceptional cases."

UCI President David Lappartient has returned to the issue of nighttime doping tests during the men's Tour de France , defending their usefulness but emphasizing that they must remain an exceptional tool and not a daily practice in the world of top-level cycling.

Both of the Grande Boucle's most recent winners, defending champion Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard , winner in 2022 and 2023, were among the riders subjected to night checks during the 2026 edition of the race: Vingegaard was tested at 2am, on the very day he later retired after a crash, while Pogačar was checked at 5am.

Reports later emerged that five other teams were tested at similar times during the race, an atypical occurrence under UCI and WADA rules, which normally limit standard testing to the 6am-11pm time slot.

It should be noted that being selected for a test, even after hours, is part of standard anti-doping practice and does not imply any specific suspicion or guilt on the part of the riders involved. Neither Pogačar nor Vingegaard have been charged with any anti-doping violation.

Speaking during the current edition of the Tour de France Femmes , Lappartient said in an interview that in cycling, "there will always be an underlying suspicion." She explained that while she is not in favor of regular nighttime testing, she considers it a useful tool in the fight against micro-dosing of illicit substances.

He also stressed that the absence, so far, of press releases from the International Testing Agency (ITA) would indicate that there had been no positive tests during the Tour.

"The ITA never releases statements about negative results, only positive ones," Lappartient said. "We didn't see any statements during the Tour de France, so it seems like there was nothing unusual."

While not advocating regular nighttime testing, Lappartient confirmed that the UCI supports the use of specific ITA checks during that time slot "because we know that, with EPO microdosing, it's something that can't be detected after six or seven hours. So, for riders, knowing that ITA could arrive at any time is always a source of fear."

"We've always been suspicious in cycling, due to our past. I know what's been done to fight doping," he added.

"The night test is a tool in this battle, but it shouldn't be used every day. It must be used in a very exceptional way. It's not a suspicion of a specific rider, but a global message to the entire group."

Lappartient's words confirm what was already expressed in a UCI statement during the third week of the Tour, in response to criticism from some riders regarding night-time checks.

"Following several reactions in recent days regarding the surprise doping tests carried out by the International Testing Agency (ITA) during the Tour de France—particularly after the statement from the professional riders' association (CPA)—the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) wishes to respond and reiterate that the fight against doping remains an absolute priority," the statement reads.

For those who manage fantasy cycling teams, this story serves as an interesting reminder: non-sporting incidents like night tests, media controversy, and psychological pressure can impact the performance of top riders, especially during the crucial weeks of a Grand Tour. Keeping an eye not only on the legs, but also on the context surrounding the protagonists of the general classification can make all the difference in managing your virtual team.

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency