Fri, July 03, 2026
ITA to implement its new testing approach during Tour de France
The International Testing Agency (ITA) will collect around 600 in-competition samples during the Tour de France and over 360 out-of-competition tests have already been conducted on riders expected to compete, as part of its new testing approach. As was the case at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Paris-based World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory will serve as the primary facility for sample analysis during the Tour.
As part of its new mandate as of this year, the ITA is also responsible for whereabouts failures in international-level cycling. The event starts in Barcelona on Saturday, 4 July 2026 – Sunday, 26 July 2026. It will start with 184 riders representing 23 teams. To implement the “refined” testing plan, over 40 ITA and sample collection personnel will be deployed at the Grand Départ in Barcelona. The event will primarily utilise the “ITA’s own experienced” sample collection team. The agency is also coordinating with Spanish and French police and customs authorities.
The agency has voiced that it will be utilising a risk assessment approach which includes considerations such as rider performance trends, insights from Athlete Biological Passports (ABP), a system that monitors an athlete's biological markers over time to detect signs of doping, and intel from the ITA’s Intelligence and Investigations department.
Testing will occur any time during the three-week race, not just at the finish. The yellow jersey wearer, the rider with the lowest cumulative time over all race stages, and each stage winner will always be tested, as has been the case over the years, along with a handful of randomly picked riders each day.
The ITA has also expressed that has strengthened its data analysis capacity to enhance its testing and ABP strategy both in and out of competition. It will also implement long-term storage of selected samples over a 10-year period for potential reanalysis due to scientific developments and potential intelligence gathered throughout the season and during the event.
The testing agency has also voiced that there will be particular focus on endogenous steroid markers, meaning the agency will pay closer attention to steroids that the body naturally makes such as testosterone. If a cyclist’s natural steroid profile changes over time in a notable way, it could indicate performance enhancing tactics. The agency will also work to better detect the presence of Human Growth Hormone (hGH) abuse.
As part of medical monitoring, all riders will be pre-race tested.
Following a multi-year funding initiative concluded in 2024, the ITA has been able to strengthen critical areas such as Intelligence & Investigations, scientific development, data analysis, testing, long-term sample storage, and re-analysis.
It also recently launched a two-year study looking at whether power data could assist its quest to protect clean sport. Power output data measures a cyclist's power during riding, so, unusually high or unexplained improvements could indicate potential doping and may help guide anti-doping investigations. About 60 riders are taking part in the study with the University of Kent and University College London.
ITA Director General, Benjamin Cohen, stated: “The Tour de France remains one of the most visible and demanding events in international sport from an anti-doping perspective. Our 2026 program reflects the continued evolution of cycling’s anti-doping strategy through intelligence-led testing, scientific advancements, strengthened investigative capabilities and close cooperation with our partners. We remain committed to protecting the integrity of the race and ensuring that all riders compete under the same rules and conditions.”
The ITA’s full statement can be found here.
