More than 360 pre-race tests, 600 race samples, police cooperation and even power-data monitoring. Here’s how cycling’s anti-doping program is evolving.
The ITA says it will have more than 40 personnel on the ground during the Tour de France. (Photo: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Updated July 2, 2026 05:47AM
Anti-doping controls for the 2026 Tour de France began weeks before the peloton rolls out Saturday in Barcelona.
The International Testing Agency says it has already conducted more than 360 out-of-competition controls and will have more than 40 officials across the three-week race.
The agency is also coordinating with Spanish and French police and customs authorities as the race starts in Barcelona before returning to France on stage 3.
The strategy reflects how anti-doping has changed for the 2026 Tour.
“The Tour de France remains one of the most visible and demanding events in international sport from an anti-doping perspective,” ITA director general Benjamin Cohen said.
The ITA plans to collect more than 600 in-competition samples during the next three weeks in cycling’s biggest race.
As always, every stage winner and the yellow jersey wearer get tested automatically, along with a handful of randomly picked riders each day.
It’s a different world from the days of police raids and high-profile busts from decades ago.
Cycling hasn’t been free of doping controversy, but the last rider to return an in-competition positive during the Tour was Luca Paolini in 2015.
How has anti-doping changed since then?
Investigators now use intelligence-gathering and the Athlete Biological Passport to track riders’ blood values over time and target tests when something looks off.
The agency is also tracking more biological markers this year, including blood serum steroid profiles and hormone markers tied to human growth hormone abuse.
The ITA — which now runs all anti-doping activities for the UCI — will continue storing selected samples for up to 10 years so they can be re-analyzed as testing methods improve.
It also recently launched a two-year study looking at whether power data could become the next anti-doping tool.
About 60 riders from four WorldTeams and one ProTeam are taking part in the study with the University of Kent and University College London.
“We remain committed to protecting the integrity of the race and ensuring that all riders compete under the same rules and conditions,” Cohen said.
Some wonder if doping controls are keeping up with the peloton.
The testing has changed dramatically, but not everyone believes the sport has.
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