Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard, the Tour de France champion twice, acknowledged that he once missed an anti-doping test. He explained the incident during a recent interview, revealing that he had left his phone in the kitchen and, subsequently, the doorbell failed to summon him for the check.
In a sit-down with the Danish newspaper Nakit Bladet, Vingegaard described how the missed test happened by chance rather than by intent. He stressed that he hopes such a mishap will not recur and that he takes the matter seriously now, aiming to ensure it never happens again.
Vingegaard confirmed that he had previously missed a doping control in his career and said that the situation is something he has reflected on. He emphasized that learning from past missteps is part of moving forward and maintaining integrity in the sport.
During the discussion, the rider also touched on his awareness of a recent case involving a teammate, Michel Hesmann. Vingegaard offered his perspective on the broader doping landscape and how it affects the team and the sport as a whole.
The circumstances surrounding the 2019 incident were clarified, with Vingegaard noting that the lapse occurred in 2023 and has been scrutinized multiple times. He explained that a combination of a misplaced mobile phone and a nonfunctional doorbell made it impossible to respond to the anti-doping team’s attempts to contact him, and he described the delay as a mistake that eventually surfaced two days later.
When discussing compliance, Vingegaard acknowledged that meeting the whereabouts reporting requirements is not overly complicated, yet he admitted that the process can be perceived as an inconvenience. He underlined that the system serves a positive purpose by increasing the frequency and reliability of tests, which he believes ultimately benefits the sport.
He emphasized that performing well on tests is beneficial for the sport’s reputation. Although all of his tests have come back negative, he admitted that the experience can feel hollow given past eras when testing and traps were more prevalent and less transparent.
Referring to his Jumbo Visma teammate Michel Hessmann, he discussed a non-competitive diuretic test from June and shared his outlook on how such substances can appear in an athlete’s body. He noted that there are many possible sources, including foods, and that even a clean intent can be undermined if a substance is detected in the body.
Despite labeling the situation as a source of shame, Vingegaard found some positivity in the ongoing conversation about doping in cycling. He believes it is important that the sport keeps talking about past issues rather than brushing them aside, as open discussion can foster a culture of accountability and honesty.
Vingegaard stated that addressing the past openly helps deter cheating and provides a better chance of preventing future incidents. He framed his remarks as a commitment to transparency and a willingness to learn from errors, aiming to strengthen trust within the community and with fans.
He also spoke about his personal stance on reliability and discipline. Vingegaard said he does not drink during competition periods and expressed his belief that the rest of the team shares a similar commitment. He argued that his two Tour de France titles were earned through clean, focused effort, and he suggested that teammates who achieved similar results likely did so without resorting to prohibited methods.