SerpApi.Org
Remco Evenepoel and his Red Bull teammates were the latest to be targeted for anti-doping measures at the Tour de France.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team manager Ralph Denk told ZDF on Tuesday morning that all eight of his riders were subject to testing by officials Monday night.
The news comes as the Tour de France is mired in a dope testing debate.
Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar were tested at 2a.m and 5 a.m. respectively on Sunday ahead of a huge mountain stage in the Vosges.
Vingegaard crashed out of the stage that afternoon, prompting a discussion about the impact of lost sleep and recovery time.
That Vingegaard and Pogačar were tested inside the 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. window that’s supposedly “protected” from surprise out-of-competition tests added another layer of consternation.
The I.T.A. testing agency was prompted to defend its controversial tests over the weekend.
Evenepoel tested before crucial TT
Denk confirmed his riders were tested at 10 p.m., ahead of any supposed cut-off. However, the late night disturbance could still be telling.
Tuesday’s stage 16 time trial is poised to shake up the GC before the race hits the Alps.
Evenepoel, who moved up to second on GC on Sunday, is top favorite for the victory.
“Of course, it prevents recovery,” Denk told ZDF.
Evenepoel raised the topic of surprise overnight testing after his standout win over Pogačar and Isaac del Toro on Sunday, suggesting he’d go to bed extra early to avoid any disturbed sleep.
“I always try to go to sleep as early as possible, because a regular doping test can also take place from 6 a.m. That’s already quite early. Now it is actually a kind of reality check, an alarm bell going off,” Evenepoel said. “Because of that, I am going to pay extra attention to going to sleep on time.”
Evenepoel rolls out for his TT at 17:13 CET on Tuesday.
Plenty of time to catch up on sleep.
