"They have changed my life since January": Pogacar undergoes another test and explains how he is experiencing the anti-doping operation

The intense anti-doping campaign deployed during the 2026 Tour de France does not stop. After the huge controversy generated by the early morning tests on Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, the International Testing Agency (ITA) visited several team hotels again on Monday to conduct a new round of tests, although this time within the usual hours.

Anti-doping tests continue in the Tour: Pogacar undergoes another test and explains how he is experiencing the ITA operation

Among the teams inspected were Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, Decathlon CMA CGM, EF Education-EasyPost, Alpecin-Premier Tech, Soudal-QuickStep, XDS Astana, Groupama-FDJ, and Picnic-PostNL, according to Cyclingnews.

Evenepoel and Paul Seixas among the new tests

According to Cyclingnews, the team of Remco Evenepoel received a visit from ITA inspectors around 10:00 PM, while the Decathlon CMA CGM team of Paul Seixas was tested approximately an hour and a half earlier.

In some cases, the entire team was tested, while in others only certain riders were selected.

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Tadej Pogacar was also required again during the rest day. The Tour leader and his teammate Isaac del Toro underwent a new test around 9:00 PM, a practice that is completely normal during the rest days of the race.

Unlike the tests conducted early Sunday morning, these inspections were carried out between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM, the ordinary time frame set by anti-doping regulations and that does not require any extraordinary authorization.

Pogacar: “Since January, I have been attentive to the tests”

After undergoing the anti-doping test again, Pogacar spoke extensively about a situation he considers unusual due to the intensity with which it is developing this year.

The yellow jersey explained that he has practically had to adapt his daily life to the possibility of receiving an unexpected visit from inspectors.

“This year is very strange with the tests in general. They are doing different tests than usual, and I have been counting all the tests I have had since January… When I was at home, I would get up at six in the morning in case someone called, and I thought about not wanting to even go to the supermarket or out to dinner in case they came at random hours. The doctor who came in the early morning even apologized because it wasn't his fault to come at that hour. I also thought it was another time, but he replied that it was a night test.”

Despite acknowledging that the situation is uncomfortable, the Slovenian insisted that he fully accepts this type of measure if it helps maintain the credibility of the sport.

“I could hardly sleep afterwards. It's strange, but I accept it because it is necessary to continue proving that we compete clean. I fully accept it and commit to it, but it is a bit of a hassle when you only sleep four hours in the middle of a three-week race. And Vingegaard, who was tested at two in the morning, probably slept four hours or less. It breaks your deep sleep, and you think: 'They completely ruined my night.' But it is what it is; if we have to do this, we do it.”

The riders' association calls for reflection

Pogacar's statements come just a day after the statement issued by the CPA (Cyclistes Professionnels Associés), the international riders' union.

The organization made it clear that it supports a rigorous anti-doping fight but questioned the appropriateness of conducting tests during the night.

“The CPA wishes to reaffirm, on behalf of all riders, its total commitment to a solid, credible, and effective anti-doping fight. Professional cyclists are the first to want a clean sport.”

However, the statement adds that:  “Night tests raise questions about their relevance: interrupting athletes' rest in the middle of the night for tests deserves serious reflection.”

The association even raises whether it would be more effective to allocate more resources to the development of new scientific detection techniques.

”Wouldn't it be more appropriate to invest more in scientific research and detection technologies, rather than increasing the number of especially intrusive surprise tests? Our goal is not to question the fight against doping; on the contrary, we want it to be increasingly effective and specific to identify the real cheaters, always respecting the rights, health, and recovery of athletes.”

Jonathan Vaughters: “With these tests, we could have avoided 25 years of drama for this sport"

One of the most forceful reactions came from Jonathan Vaughters, director of EF Education-EasyPost, a team that was also tested during the rest day.

In a social media post, the American defended the usefulness of these tests precisely because of their ability to detect substances administered in microdoses.

“I’m going to say something that might surprise: a test at two in the morning is one of the most effective ways to detect peptides like EPO, growth hormone, or small doses of testosterone.”

Vaughters went further by drawing a parallel with the darkest era of professional cycling.

“If the UCI had tested us at two in the morning in 2001, we probably would have been suspended and avoided 25 years of drama for this sport.”

Finally, he expressed his understanding towards Pogacar and Vingegaard, who have been the visible face of this new anti-doping strategy.

“It's a shame that Tadej and Jonas have to pay for the mistakes we made. But I would trade a few lost hours of sleep for regaining credibility for our sport. Honestly, I think I owe them an apology.”

With approximately 600 tests planned during this Tour de France, the ITA maintains one of the most ambitious anti-doping programs seen to date in the race, a strategy that, judging by what has happened in recent days, will continue to generate debate until the arrival in Paris.