Jonas Vingegaard faced a dramatic exit from the Tour de France on the approach to the Alpine climb of Plateau de Solaison, just hours after enduring unexpected doping controls early Sunday morning. The double Tour champion and Giro d’Italia winner was seen climbing gingerly into a race ambulance with his right arm in a sling after crashing as the main peloton exited a roundabout in Bonneville.

Both Vingegaard and race leader Tadej Pogacar underwent nocturnal doping tests prior to stage 15, with Vingegaard tested by the International Testing Agency (ITA) at 2 AM. Reflecting on the experience, he stated, "I was sleeping very well, but somebody knocked on my door at 2 AM. It’s good that they test, but when it’s affecting performance and your sleep, I don’t think it’s so good."

The cause of Vingegaard’s crash remains uncertain, whether due to fatigue or a sudden movement in the peloton, as he was in the slipstream of several Visma-Lease-a-Bike teammates when he fell. After a brief hiatus, racing resumed, with Pogacar, alongside Remco Evenepoel and teammate Isaac del Toro, pushing to the front during the steep final climb.

Evenepoel ultimately triumphed, leading the sprint for stage victory, while Vingegaard was treated for his injuries. The aftermath of Vingegaard’s crash sparked outrage among riders regarding the timing of the doping tests, with teammate Matteo Jorgenson voicing frustration about the disrespect shown to athletes' recovery. Evenepoel echoed these sentiments, questioning the appropriateness of the 2 AM testing.

Despite the controversy, Richard Plugge, Vingegaard’s team manager, acknowledged the importance of anti-doping efforts but noted the inconvenience of late-night tests.