Jonas Vingegaard's Crash: Tadej Pogacar Blames 'Inhuman' Anti-Doping T

Jonas Vingegaard's Crash: Tadej Pogacar Blames 'Inhuman' Anti-Doping Tests

Jonas Vingegaard, the reigning Tour de France champion, has been forced to withdraw from the competition after a devastating crash on the mountainous 15th stage. The 29-year-old Dane suffered a broken collarbone after falling hard on a tight bend 20km from the finish of the 183.9km stage from Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison.

What happened?

Tadej Pogacar, the current Tour de France leader, has suggested that 'inhuman' anti-doping tests may have contributed to Vingegaard's crash. Pogacar claimed that the lack of sleep due to the tests could have led to Vingegaard losing concentration, resulting in the crash. "First they wake him up at 2am for a control, which I think is very inhuman," Pogacar said after he finished the stage second to Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel.

Why it matters for Jonas Vingegaard

Pogacar's comments have sparked controversy in the cycling community, with many riders expressing their discontent with the anti-doping testing procedures. Evenepoel, who finished second in the stage, said that riders should not accept night-time testing. "The only thing I can say is that it's pretty disrespectful to wake up the guys in the middle of the night," he said.

What comes next?

Vingegaard is due to undergo surgery in the coming days and will likely miss the remainder of the Tour de France. Pogacar, who is now the favorite to win the competition, has expressed his disappointment and sadness for Vingegaard's withdrawal. "The Tour will not be the same without him," he said.

The International Testing Agency (ITA) has acknowledged that night-time testing may be disruptive to riders' rest and recovery. However, they claim that it is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the cycling anti-doping programme and the integrity of cycling races. "As such, effective testing must, in limited and justified circumstances, be capable to occur outside standard daytime hours," the ITA said in a statement.

Pogacar's comments have raised questions about the impact of anti-doping testing on the mental and physical well-being of riders. The controversy surrounding the testing procedures is likely to continue throughout the remainder of the Tour de France.

The 15th stage of the Tour de France took place on July 19, with Pogacar finishing second to Evenepoel. Vingegaard's crash occurred 20km from the finish of the stage, resulting in a broken collarbone and his withdrawal from the competition.

The Tour de France continues on July 20, with Pogacar now the favorite to win the competition. The controversy surrounding the anti-doping testing procedures is likely to continue throughout the remainder of the event.

Pogacar has undergone numerous out-of-competition tests at home, which has made him wary of leaving his house for fear of falling foul of whereabouts rules. "This year it's been very strange with the testing in general," he said. "When I was home I was already waking up every day at 6:00 am to go check the doorbell if somebody was ringing because I had so many visits."

The ITA has stated that night-time testing is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the cycling anti-doping programme. However, many riders, including Evenepoel, have expressed their discontent with the testing procedures. "The only thing I can say is that it's pretty disrespectful to wake up the guys in the middle of the night," Evenepoel said.

The controversy surrounding the anti-doping testing procedures is likely to continue throughout the remainder of the Tour de France. The impact of the testing on the mental and physical well-being of riders is a concern that needs to be addressed.

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