The case of nighttime anti-doping checks involving Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard continues to spark debate at the Tour de France. Following statements from the two main protagonists in the general classification and the discontent expressed by their respective teams (particularly Vermeersch and Jorgenson), Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel has also weighed in on the matter. Currently third in the GC, 5'04" behind the Slovenian, Evenepoel has come to the defense of his rivals, expressing serious doubts about the decision to conduct checks in the middle of the night and describing the episode as difficult to comprehend.

Speaking to the Belgian press, the Red Bull Bora-hansgrohe captain and leader explained that he was surprised to learn that the checks were allegedly carried out at two in the morning. Although not personally involved, he noted that, as far as he understands, protocols normally provide for procedures to begin in the early morning hours. For this reason, if the reported times were confirmed, he believes it would be an excessive and hardly justifiable situation: "I was told it happened at two in the morning. It seems very strange to me, because according to the rules it's not allowed. It's annoying, but fortunately this night it wasn't my problem. If it really was like that, it would be scandalous". The Belgian continued: "Normally the rule provides that checks start from six in the morning, so two in the morning seems a bit excessive to me", these were Evenepoel's words to Het Nieuwsblad.

The Olympic champion then concluded with a tongue-in-cheek but eloquent quip, suggesting to Pogacar and Vingegaard to symbolically return the favor by waking the anti-doping officials in the middle of the night, so they too could experience the discomfort of sleep interruption before a decisive stage: "I would tell Jonas and Tadej: 'Try waking those guys up at two in the morning too. That way they'll understand what it feels like'", Remco concluded.