Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates undergo extra anti-doping tests at the Tour de France
Blood tests for riders of both teams shortly before the start of stage 17
Both Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates were subjected to additional anti-doping blood tests ahead of Wednesday's queen stage of the Tour de France.
The teams of race leader Jonas Vingegaard and second-placed Tadej Pogačar were paid a visit by testers in the morning ahead of stage 17 to Courchevel, according to a report by WielerFlits.
Riders from both squads were subjected to blood tests in Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc an hour before the start of the Alpine stage. Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates have dominated the general classification battle at this year's Tour, holding the yellow jersey for all but one day of the race and, following stage 16, occupying all three podium positions.
Taking blood tests shortly before the start of stages would, in theory, catch out any riders employing practises brought to light by Operation Aderlass.
The investigation was centred on clients of German doctor Mark Schmidt – including several cyclists and cross-country skiers – found that athletes could beat tests by re-infusing blood shortly before competition (and thus after any early morning testing) before draining it later in the day.
The testing isn't without precedent at the Tour de France in recent years. Back in 2019, Jumbo-Visma underwent blood tests 45 minutes ahead of the start of stage 18.
Team manager Richard Plugge told WielerFlits that he welcomed the tests, noting that Vingegaard, who leads Pogačar by 1:48 while lying almost nine minutes clear of any other rider, has been tested four times in the last two days.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I applaud this," he said. "In fact, I also worked hard for it. In this way, we're taking another step in the fight against doping. Jonas Vingegaard has had no fewer than four blood tests in the last 48 hours. We are happy to participate in this."
That's the Tour de France. We know Jonas very well, we know what we do, and that's just the Tour. That's up to them. It is what it is.
We are prepared for it, it's the same every year. We say how we work, and we know Jonas, and we have no doubts.
Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, joining in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.
Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, Road World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Demi Vollering, and Remco Evenepoel. Their favourite races are the Giro d'Italia, Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix.
Season highlights from the 2024 season include reporting from Paris-Roubaix – 'Unless I'm in an ambulance, I'm finishing this race' – Cyrus Monk, the last man home at Paris-Roubaix – and the Tour de France – 'Disbelief', gratitude, and family – Mark Cavendish celebrates a record-breaking Tour de France sprint win.