'I don't take anything I would not give to my daughter' - Jonas Vingegaard defends Tour de France record
Jumbo-Visma rider responds to questions about scepticism over his performances at this year's race


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Jonas Vingegaard defended his record at the Tour de France on Wednesday, telling reporters that he doesn't take "anything I would not give to my daughter".
The Jumbo-Visma rider powered away from his closest rival, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) on the queen stage of the race on Wednesday, putting five and a half minutes into the Slovenian, meaning he overwhelmingly controls the general classification.
It followed an impressive time trial on Tuesday's stage 15, where Vingegaard put 1-38 into Pogačar on a mountainous course, a performance which led some to have doubts over the veracity of the Dane's ride.
However, after stage 16, Vingegaard said that he could say from his heart that he did not take anything.
"It's hard to tell what you [I] can say more," the Jumbo rider told reporters. "I understand that it's hard to trust in cycling with the past there has been. Nowadays, everyone is different than it was 20 years ago.
"I can tell from my heart that I don't take anything. I don't take anything I would not give to my daughter, and I would definitely not give her any drugs."
The doubts over Vingegaard's performance extended to the front page of L'Équipe, France's daily sports newspaper on Wednesday, where he was labelled "D'une autre planete", or from another planet. The headline is important because it was also used for Lance Armstrong during the 1999 Tour de France, while doping questions surrounding the Texan were merely whispers of allegations.
Jumbo-Visma directeur sportif Arthur van Dongen said that the team had "no doubts" over Vingegaard's performance, and that they were prepared to face scepticism.
"That's the Tour de France," he said post-stage. "We know Jonas very well, we know what we do, and that's just the Tour. That's up to them. It is what it is.
"We are prepared for it, it's the same every year. We say how we work, and we know Jonas, and we have no doubts."
On Wednesday morning, the teams of Vingegaard and Pogačar were paid a visit by testers in the morning ahead of stage 17 to Courchevel, according to a report by WielerFlits.
Riders from both squads were subjected to blood tests in Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc an hour before the start of the stage. Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates have dominated the overall battle at this year's race.
Richard Plugge, Jumbo-Visma's general manager, said the team was happy to comply.
"I applaud this," he said. "In fact, I also worked hard for it. In this way, we're taking another step in the fight against doping. Jonas Vingegaard has had no fewer than four blood tests in the last 48 hours. We are happy to participate in this."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Adam is Cycling Weekly’s senior news and feature writer – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing, speaking to people as varied as Demi Vollering to Philippe Gilbert. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
-
All the essentials to get started commuting by bike (on a budget – or not)
Here is everything you need to buy for cycling to work – and how not to break the bank by doing so
By Stefan Abram Published
-
How to lock a bike securely: eight tips for worry-free urban cycling
If you’re using your bike to commute to work or to nip to the shops, you’ll want to make sure it’s still there when you return
By Paul Norman Published
-
Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step discuss potential merger - reports
Idea of merger between the two teams could see new ‘super team’ known as Soudal-Visma or Visma-Soudal as soon as 2024
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Michel Hessmann anti doping positive a ‘black day’ for Jumbo-Visma says boss
22-year-old German rider suspended by Dutch team in August after positive test revealed presence of diuretics
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
In memoriam: Tadej Pogačar's white jersey domination
After 81 days in the young rider's jersey at Grand Tours, the Slovenian has grown up
By Adam Becket Published
-
Jumbo-Visma's Nathan Van Hooydonck retires from cycling due to heart problems
The Belgian left hospital on Wednesday after being involved in a car crash last week
By Adam Becket Published
-
How much did Sepp Kuss and Jumbo-Visma win at the Vuelta a España 2023?
Turns out locking out the podium for much of the race gets you quite a few Euros
By Adam Becket Published
-
Five things we learned from the Vuelta a España 2023: Sepp Kuss is the real deal and Ineos still lacking
Here's what we learned from the final Grand Tour of the 2023 season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard: 'I am 100% sure that myself, Sepp Kuss and Primož Roglič are not taking anything'
Jumbo-Visma will become the first team to win all three of cycling's Grand Tours in the same season
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Could Primož Roglič really leave Jumbo-Visma?
Rumours have been building that the Slovenian could be depart the Grand Tour conquerors
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published