2024年环法自行车赛在巴黎落幕，斯洛文尼亚选手塔德·波加查尔赢得个人第五个环法冠军，与雅克·安奎蒂尔、埃迪·默克斯、伯纳德·伊诺、米格尔·因杜赖因并列历史最伟大骑手之列 [1]。赛事期间，国际反兴奋剂机构实施了一系列异常规格的夜间检测操作，包括在约纳斯·温盖加德车祸前一晚凌晨2点进行检测，以及对波加查尔进行的凌晨5点检测 [1]，此举引发了对运动员是否进行微量给药作弊的质疑。
本次赛事展现了自行车运动的强劲人气。约50万观众现场观赛，其中18万人聚集在蒙马特地区 [1]。车队总经理乔纳森·沃特斯表示："如果我们在2001年引入24小时检测……我们会排除包括我在内的大量骑手……这会节省25年的争议" [1]。与此同时，英国过去一年至少有3020万人骑过一次自行车，创2019年以来最高纪录 [1]，而英国将于明年夏季举办男子和女子环法自行车赛的六个赛段 [1]。
Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia secured his fifth Tour de France championship at the conclusion of the 2024 race in Paris, equaling the all-time record held by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.[1] The event drew approximately 500,000 spectators to the French capital, with 180,000 of them converging on the Montmartre district, underscoring cycling's sustained appeal among audiences.[1]
The race proved notable not only for Pogacar's achievement but also for the International Testing Agency's unusually intensive anti-doping operations during competition.[1] The ITA conducted overnight testing protocols that included a blood test on Jonas Vingegaard at 2 a.m. the night before his crash and a 5 a.m. examination of Pogacar, raising questions about potential micro-dosing practices among competitors.[1] Team manager Jonathan Vaughters reflected on the significance of such vigilance, stating: "If we had introduced 24-hour testing in 2001, we would have disqualified a large number of riders including myself. That would have saved 25 years of controversy."[1]
The sport's momentum extends beyond this summer's marquee event. The United Kingdom will host six stages of both the men's and women's Tour de France next summer, while British participation in cycling continues to expand, with 30.2 million people riding at least once over the past year—the highest figure recorded since 2019-20.[1]