Tadej Pogacar will undergo surgery after sustaining a fractured collarbone in a crash during the eighth stage of the Vuelta a España on Sunday, forcing him to withdraw from the race. The five-time Tour de France champion had been firmly in control, holding a commanding overall lead of three minutes and 50 seconds with just over a week remaining in the competition.
Pogacar’s crash occurred with 31 kilometers left in the stage, abruptly ending his pursuit of a career achievement to win all three Grand Tours in the same season. Following his withdrawal, Spanish rider Enric Mas assumed the race lead, holding a 71-second advantage over Austria’s Felix Gall.
The stage concluded in a sprint finish at the resort town of Xeraco on Spain’s coast, with French sprinter Bryan Coquard edging out Danish cyclist Mads Pedersen for the victory.
Medical evaluations revealed that Pogacar suffered a concussion, a displaced fracture of the left clavicle, a stable fracture of the C7 cervical vertebra, and multiple abrasions. According to UAE Team Emirates’ medical director, Adrian Rotunno, the rider is currently stable with no serious neurological damage reported. Surgery to repair the collarbone will be necessary but postponed temporarily to prioritize concussion protocols.
As a result of his injuries, Pogacar is expected to miss the upcoming cycling World Championships scheduled for next month. The UAE Team Emirates squad did not provide a specific timeline for his return to competition.