Vingegaard’s and Pogacar’s night-time doping tests authorised by Paris judge

Night-time testing was introduced primarily to combat the use of micro-dosing of performance-enhancing products, a practice which allows only a short window for detection.

Jonas Vingegaard was tested at 2am on Sunday by the ITA, while Tadej Pogacar’s unexpected wake-up call came at 5am. Pic: Jeff PACHOUD / AFP via Getty Images

A Paris judge authorised the night-time doping tests of the Tour de France leader, Tadej Pogacar, and his nearest rival, Jonas Vingegaard, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Monday that the International Testing Agency (ITA) petitioned the “Paris judge specialising in liberty and detention matters … to authorise the anti-doping tests that took place overnight between July 18 and 19”.