Tadej Pogacar wakes up at 2 AM for surprise anti-doping test before Tour de France 2026 Stage 15

Tadej Pogacar was woken at 2 AM on 18 July 2026 for an unannounced anti-doping control before Stage 15 of the Tour de France 2026.

What happened?

Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard were among the riders selected for surprise out-of-competition doping tests in the early hours of Thursday. The controls came just hours before the 15th stage, a 202.5 km route from Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille. Riders were roused from their beds and escorted to testing stations set up near their hotels.

Why it matters for Tadej Pogacar

Pogacar, the two-time Tour de France champion, faces heightened scrutiny after finishing second on Stage 14. The timing-so close to a key mountain stage-adds pressure on the UAE Team Emirates leader. Cycling’s governing body has ramped up no-notice testing this year, targeting GC contenders and stage winners.

How anti-doping checks work in the Tour

Officials from France’s AFLD and the UCI arrived unannounced at the riders’ hotels. They took blood and urine samples under strict chain-of-custody rules. Riders have no right to refuse and must report within 30 minutes or face sanctions. The samples are split: one for the lab, one stored frozen for re-testing up to ten years.

What comes next?

Stage 15 features five hors catégorie climbs, including the Col de Portet. Pogacar will line up knowing his biological passport is under the microscope. The peloton expects more surprise tests during the final week. A clean result on the Plateau de Beille could shift focus back to racing-and away from the doping spotlight.