Tadej Pogacar is set to undergo surgery after a high-speed crash forced him to abandon the Vuelta a Espana. The five-time Tour de France champion fell with 31km remaining in the eighth stage, effectively ending his pursuit of a career clean sweep across the three Grand Tours.
Before the accident, Pogacar had established a commanding lead of three minutes and 50 seconds, positioning himself as the clear favorite to win the race. Following his withdrawal, Spaniard Enric Mas has inherited the overall leader’s red jersey, holding a 71-second advantage over Austria’s Felix Gall.
UAE team medical director Adrian Rotunno confirmed the severity of the cyclist’s condition in a formal statement. “He is stable, and following a thorough medical assessment at hospital, Tadej has been diagnosed with a concussion, displaced left clavicle fracture, a stable C7 cervical fracture, and multiple abrasions,” Rotunno noted.
The medical team reported that there were no other major injuries or neurological complications detected during the evaluation. However, the recovery process requires careful management.
Rotunno explained that the necessary clavicle surgery will be postponed temporarily to adhere to standard concussion safety protocols. The team continues to monitor Pogacar’s recovery and has promised to share further updates once the surgical procedure is completed.
This incident marks a sudden halt to a dominant season for the Slovenian rider, who recently secured a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title. His team remains focused on his rehabilitation as he recovers from the injuries sustained during the Spanish tour. The report also notes that pogacar had been leading by a massive three minutes and 50 seconds a week into the race and was the overwhelming favourite for victory.