All remaining Tour de France riders undergo anti-doping blood tests

All cyclists still competing in the 2026 Tour de France faced anti-doping blood tests on Monday. The International Testing Agency (ITA) confirmed the comprehensive testing, part of its Athlete Biological Passport program. These missions supplement routine pre-race and in-race checks.

Collecting additional blood samples allows the ITA to monitor variations in athletes' biological markers. This strengthens the long-term tracking of each rider's individual profile. The biological passport system, introduced in cycling in 2008, tracks specific biological variables over time to detect doping effects.

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This mission complements the standard pre-competition testing conducted on all riders in the days preceding the Grand Depart and any test already conducted during the race.

The testing occurred during normal hours for most teams. This follows unannounced tests conducted on top riders Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard early Sunday. Rider Matej Mohoric also reported a 5 a.m. test during the Tour. However, the frequent testing has raised concerns among some teams about its impact on athletes' sleep and recovery.

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Collecting additional blood samples enables the ITA to assess variations in relevant hematological biological markers and strengthen the longitudinal monitoring of each rider’s individual profile.