Until now the hormone was not possible to detect since it occurs naturally in the body.

Until now it has been impossible to test for EPO

But the scientists behind the new test say sugar in the urine changes character after using EPO, and testing for this can weed out the cheats.

In a statement the UCI said that it expected a method for detecting the banned substance EPO "could finally be validated in the coming months".

It warned that any cyclist found retrospectively to have used EPO at this Tour, would suffer from the "rules and sanctions" already in place.

The governing body said the aim was to clean up the sport.

"(We want) to ensure (the Tour) is held in the utmost sporting and serene (conditions)," said the statement.

And their announcement was welcomed by Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc.

"The advantages outweigh the inconveniences.

Tour chief Jean-Marie Leblanc welcomed the move

"The inconvenience is that we could have stage winners or even riders on the podium who would be sanctioned at an ulterior date," he told the sports daily L'Equipe.

"But I think it will contribute towards relaxing the atmosphere. We feel it is putrid, that the riders mistrust each other, that the press do not trust the riders and vice versa."

French cycling federation president Daniel Baal agreed.

"It's the optimum solution. As far as disuasion goes we can believe we'll get the same conditions as if the results were known on the Tour."