The pair are leading the general classification ahead of stage 15 Jeff Pachoud/AFP via Getty ImagesJuly 19, 2026 Updated 8:31 am EDTTadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard were woken up by drug testers in the middle of the night ahead of Sunday’s crucial mountain stage to Plateau de Solaison.Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) was woken at 2am, followed by Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) three hours later, with the tests carried out by the International Testing Agency (ITA), sport’s independent anti-doping body.“I couldn’t get back to sleep,” said Pogacar before stage 15, revealing that he had only had four hours of sleep after going to bed at 1am. “I spent the time (in the morning) listening to old Eminem songs and making coffee. I feel sorry for the guys who have to wake us up. They are just doing their job.”Unannounced tests have been allowed at the Tour since 2016.“I guess the ITA didn’t allow me to sleep much,” Vingegaard told TNT Sports. “I was sleeping very well but then somebody knocked on my door at 2am. Big surprise to me but of course I mean it’s good that they test, but when it’s affecting performance and your sleep I don’t think it’s so good.“Hopefully also in the end I’m not the only one because it has to be equal for everybody. It’s not the nicest at two o’clock. It took about 40 minutes before I was back in my room. It was not the best night. Still feel ok but just not the best night.”Vingegaard’s teammate Matteo Jorgenson was more outspoken.“I was asked to keep my opinion on this to myself,” the American said. “But this is a complete lack of respect for the riders. We are focusing heavily on recovery. That is hugely important, especially between two of the toughest mountain stages in this Tour. And then you get woken up at 2 am. That makes me really furious.”Pogacar leads the Tour by four minutes and 30 seconds over Vingegaard, the largest gap entering the race’s final week since Vincenzo Nibali’s victory in 2014, with further gaps expected on stage 15’s ascent of Plateau de Solaison.Jul 19, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms