Five-time Tour de France champion and top contender Tadej Pogacar withdrew from the Spanish Vuelta following a crash on the eighth stage of the race on Saturday. Pogacar, hailing from Slovenia, had a significant lead in the race but was involved in a crash around 33 kilometers from the finish line. Despite attempting to resume cycling, he ultimately had to abandon the race and was escorted to an ambulance by race officials.
The leader of UAE Team Emirates aimed to join the elite group of male riders who have conquered all three Grand Tour races. Having clinched the Tour de France for the third consecutive time and the Giro d’Italia in 2024, Pogacar sought victory in the Vuelta, where he last competed during his Grand Tour debut in 2019.
On-screen footage captured Pogacar sustaining injuries to his head, left arm, and shoulder. The incident occurred as he veered into fellow cyclists in an attempt to avoid an obstacle on the road, causing him to lose control and tumble over his handlebars, resulting in injuries to his head and shoulder.
Following the stage, UAE Team Emirates sports manager Matxin Joxean Fernandez disclosed that Pogacar received stitches for his eyebrow and other wounds. Fernandez emphasized that such mishaps are commonplace in cycling and noted Pogacar’s initial desire to continue despite the pain but ultimately deciding to withdraw due to his shoulder discomfort.
Enric Mas of Movistar took over the race lead from Pogacar, with a margin of 3 minutes and 50 seconds before the stage. Mas became the first Spanish rider to lead the Vuelta since 2018. With Pogacar out of the competition, Mas assumed the leader’s position, expressing mixed feelings about inheriting the role due to Pogacar’s misfortune.
Pogacar’s absence from the Vuelta marked his first abandonment in ten Grand Tours, having consistently finished no lower than third place. The three-week race is set to culminate in Granada on September 13.
