The voice of the CPA, the Riders' Association, also emerges in the debate over night-time controls at the Tour de France. "Following the night-time controls carried out on Vingegaard and Pogacar, as well as on other riders, the CPA wishes to reaffirm, on behalf of all riders, its total commitment to a strong, credible and effective fight against doping. Riders are the first to demand it and finance part of the research out of their own pockets, the only athletes in the world to do so," reads the statement issued this evening.

However, the methods sometimes deserve reflection: interrupting night-time rest is a contradiction in terms, especially since the objective of the research itself is to preserve the athlete's health and ensure sporting fairness.

The Tour de France is a race that demands exceptional physical effort, during which sleep is essential not only for recovery and performance, but also for the health and safety of the riders.

Cycling contributes 10 million euros every year to fund the fight carried out by the ITA when WADA invests 5 million dollars for all sports combined. Would it not therefore be better to invest more in scientific research and research technology, rather than multiplying unannounced and particularly intrusive controls?

We call for the fight against doping to be increasingly effective and efficient, but we also call for sporting fairness to be respected and for each athlete to be able to benefit from adequate recovery. The CPA calls for all parties involved to meet as soon as possible to work on clarifying the process and to ensure that controls are carried out within a defined legal framework.

An effective fight against doping is indispensable, an intelligent fight against doping is equally so."