The professional riders’ union has launched a fierce attack on cycling’s anti-doping system after Jonas Vingegaard was subjected to a blood test at 2am during the Tour de France.
CPA president Adam Hansen argues that the current approach places an excessive physical, psychological and financial burden on riders. The overnight test was not a routine control, however. It was an exceptional measure authorised by a French judge under rules governing tests conducted between 11pm and 6am.
Exceptional test disrupts Tour de France
Vingegaard was tested at approximately 2am before the 15th stage, while race leader Tadej Pogačar was visited at around 5am.
According to Jeremy Whittle’s report for The Guardian, the International Testing Agency requested permission from a Paris judge to conduct the tests. UCI regulations require “serious and specific suspicions” before a control can take place during the normal protected period between 11pm and 6am.
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The ITA nevertheless stressed that the decision should not be interpreted as evidence that either rider had committed—or was suspected of committing—an anti-doping violation.
Vingegaard later crashed during the stage, suffering a fractured collarbone that forced him to leave the Tour. Several riders questioned whether his disturbed sleep might have affected his concentration, but there is no evidence establishing a causal link between the test and the crash.
Hansen warns of the human cost
Hansen responded with a lengthy statement outlining the CPA’s frustration with the system.
As quoted in Giulia De Maio’s report for Tuttobici, Hansen wrote: “Our position is clear: the CPA is extremely disappointed with the current direction of anti-doping efforts in professional cycling.”
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He asked people to imagine performing their usual jobs after four hours of sleep or being woken during a REM cycle for a blood test. The consequences, he argued, are magnified during a three-week Grand Tour, when recovery between demanding mountain stages is crucial.
“I’m not saying this was the cause of Jonas Vingegaard’s crash,” Hansen added, while maintaining that the disruption could still affect a rider’s performance or remain in his thoughts during a stage.
Riders contribute—but do not fund the entire ITA
The CPA also highlighted the money riders contribute to cycling’s anti-doping programme. Hansen claimed that cyclists are the only athletes who pay from their own earnings for additional testing, long-term sample storage and data analysis.
The underlying point is correct, although saying that cyclists directly fund the ITA is too broad. Riders contribute to the UCI’s cycling-specific anti-doping programme, which is operated by the ITA. The programme is also financed by the UCI, professional teams and race organisers.
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UCI regulations on prize-money deductions set the riders’ anti-doping contribution at 2.7 per cent of distributed prize money.
The UCI’s announcement on increased anti-doping investment confirms that riders are one of several groups supporting a programme with an annual operational budget of approximately €10 million.
Missed-test claim needs correction
Hansen also criticised the whereabouts system, under which riders in a registered testing pool must provide their location throughout the year and specify a daily 60-minute period when they guarantee their availability.
Testing officers may arrive outside that period without warning. However, an unsuccessful visit outside the designated hour is not automatically recorded as a missed test.
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According to WADA’s official whereabouts guidance, an athlete is liable for a missed test when unavailable during the declared 60-minute window. Inaccurate or outdated information covering other parts of the day may instead lead to a filing failure.
Three whereabouts failures—any combination of missed tests and filing failures—within 12 months can constitute an anti-doping rule violation.
The CPA also complained that WADA’s ADAMS platform suffers from technical problems and outages, adding further administrative pressure. That remains an allegation from the union rather than a finding established by an independent review.
CPA demands quality over quantity
The union wants anti-doping authorities to prioritise more sensitive laboratory analysis over an ever-growing number of tests.
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Its proposal would direct more funding towards advanced equipment capable of identifying smaller traces of prohibited substances and improving the future reanalysis of stored samples. The CPA argues that this could produce fewer but more accurate tests while reducing disruption for clean riders.
The ITA has defended its strategy. In comments carried by the Associated Press through NBC Sports, the agency said effective testing must sometimes take place outside normal daytime hours in limited and justified circumstances.
Overnight controls can be particularly valuable in detecting microdosing, where small quantities of substances such as EPO or testosterone may only remain detectable for a short period.
The dispute is therefore not about whether riders should be tested. The CPA continues to support strict anti-doping controls but believes the balance between effective enforcement and athlete welfare has shifted too far.
