Jonas Vingegaard, a two-time winner of the Tour de France, withdrew from the race on Sunday after a crash during the first Alpine stage. The incident occurred hours after he underwent an unexpected doping control in the early morning. Vingegaard’s team, Visma-Lease a Bike, later confirmed that he sustained a broken collarbone and multiple abrasions, necessitating surgery in the coming days.
The crash happened with approximately 22km remaining in stage 15 when Vingegaard’s wheel slipped on a right-hand bend. He landed heavily on his right shoulder and was seen grimacing as he was assessed by Tour doctors before entering a race medical vehicle, his right arm in a sling. This marks the first time Vingegaard has not finished a Grand Tour in his career, a significant blow given his consistent record of finishing first or second in every other Grand Tour he has participated in, including wins at the Giro d’Italia this year and the Vuelta a España last September.
The timing of the doping control has drawn criticism from fellow riders. Both Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar were subjected to nocturnal doping tests before stage 15, which was set to conclude at Plateau de Solaison in the Savoyard Alps. Vingegaard was tested by the International Testing Agency (ITA) at 2am, while Pogacar’s test occurred at 5am.
Pogacar described Vingegaard’s 2am wake-up call as “inhuman” and suggested it could have contributed to his rival’s crash by disrupting his sleep. He noted that while he was also disturbed, his 5am test allowed for more deep sleep than Vingegaard’s earlier one. Pogacar stated that such disturbances could affect concentration, especially during a demanding stage.
Remco Evenepoel, who won stage 15, also voiced strong disapproval of the nocturnal testing. He called it “inhuman” and suggested that athletes should not accept such disruptions, emphasizing that sleep is crucial for recovery. Evenepoel, who has moved to second in the overall standings behind Pogacar, expressed hope that such incidents would not recur, calling them “disrespectful.”
The ITA acknowledged that night-time testing can be disruptive but affirmed its responsibility to ensure the effectiveness and integrity of the anti-doping program. The agency stated that effective testing, in limited and justified circumstances, must be capable of occurring outside standard daytime hours, adhering to established safeguards and considering riders’ welfare and rights. UCI rules permit tests outside the normal 6am to 11pm window if there is a “serious and specific suspicion” of doping.
Other teams have also reported early morning tests during the Tour. Pogacar mentioned experiencing a “strange” pattern of controls recently, with frequent visits at home at random hours. He expressed commitment to proving clean riding but highlighted the difficulty of performing after only a few hours of sleep due to such tests.
Vingegaard’s withdrawal is a significant loss for the Tour. His team’s sport director, Marc Reef, indicated that their plan for stage 15 was progressing well until the crash. Despite starting the stage 4:30 behind Pogacar, Vingegaard and his team believed he could still challenge for victory.
The crash marks a challenging moment for Vingegaard, who will turn in December. While some riders have won the Tour past this age, the increasing difficulty with each season raises concerns about his future chances against Pogacar. His teammate Matteo Jorgenson reflected on the harsh realities of bike racing, stating, “Bike racing sucks sometimes. It really does.”
Vingegaard’s record includes victories over Pogacar in the 2022 and 2023 Tours. His absence leaves a void in the competition, a sentiment echoed by Pogacar, who noted that the Tour “will not be the same without him.”
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Source: theguardian.com
