UPDATE: Larry Warbasse describes a ‘heavy feeling’ in the peloton as UAE boss Matxin reveals Pogačar initially tried to continue after Vuelta crash.
Pogačar crashed heavily in Saturday’s stage. (Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Updated August 29, 2026 11:35AM
Tadej Pogačar crashed out of the Vuelta a España on Saturday with less than 35km remaining in stage 8.
The five-time Tour de France champion went down in a tangle of bikes and was seen clutching his shoulder as he struggled to get off the ground.
Pogačar grimaced in pain, with blood visible on his left shoulder from the impact of the crash. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash.
The peloton slowed as UAE Emirates-XRG officials rushed to Pogačar, who was eventually placed in an ambulance.
Race radio soon confirmed the stunning news: Pogačar was out of the 2026 Vuelta.
The Slovenian had led the race since last weekend’s opening stage in Monaco and appeared to have a stranglehold on the GC after winning three of the six stages that reached the finish.
Enric Mas, who started Saturday second overall, became the race leader in a dramatic turn that blew the Vuelta wide open.
It’s the first time Pogačar has crashed out of a major race since the 2023 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, when he fractured his wrist in a crash that disrupted his preparation for that year’s Tour de France. He eventually finished second to Jonas Vingegaard.
Pogačar is the first overall leader of La Vuelta to crash out of the race since Igor Antón in 2010.
And Mas is the first Spanish rider to take La Roja since Jesus Herrada (Burgos-Burpellet-BH) in 2018, even though he refused to wear it on the podium out of respect for Pogačar.
Warbasse: ‘Boom! There was a big crash on the left’
Exactly what caused Saturday’s crash was not immediately clear, but riders described a chaotic, high-speed approach moments before Pogačar went down.
Larry Warbasse (Tudor Pro Cycling), who was riding in the peloton, described a frantic run through road furniture before the crash erupted on the left side of the bunch.
“It was super fast run into the town and there was a bunch of bollards in the road, everyone is going left and right, and then, boom! There was a big crash on the left. Then we heard Pogačar went down and everyone slowed down in the bunch and everyone is waiting to hear,” Warbasse told Velo and other media.
“Then you hear he’s not moving and then a minute or two later, you hear he is out of the race. Everyone was a bit sad. There was a heavy feeling in the bunch. Now the race is open, but everyone felt bad, that’s not how you want him out of the race. It’s a bit too bad. It’s going to change the dynamic of the race and it’s a sad way to end it. Hopefully he recover for the worlds but we’re see.”
Pogačar’s exit instantly blew open a Vuelta he had dominated, but Warbasse said there was no sense of celebration in the bunch as news spread that the race leader was out.
Pogačar’s seven UAE Emirates-XRG teammates all stopped and waited for him. Once it became clear their leader could not continue, they remounted and slowly rode toward the finish together.
They crossed the line several minutes later and quietly disappeared into the team bus without immediately speaking to reporters.
UAE: ‘Tadej wanted to continue in the race’
Members of UAE crossed the line together after Pogačar crashed out. (Photo: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Joxean Fernández Matxín, UAE’s sport manager, said Pogačar initially wanted to continue before pain in his shoulder made it clear his Vuelta was over.
“All seven riders stopped. In the first moment he wanted to continue, but there was shoulder pain. It was a bad moment and it was obvious that he could not continue in the race. He went directly to ambulance and now he’s with the doctor. The first thing is the person. Now we will continue with the spirit of the team,” Matxín said.
“We will have morale and we will try to win many stages to give the victory for Tadej. In the first moment he wanted to continue and it was obvious he could not continue. We do not know what happened. It’s not the problem of the Vuelta or of another riders. It’s a race situation. We still haven’t spoken to Tadej about what happened. Now we want to stay with Tadej the person and give him what he needs to be cared for. Right now, we are focused on Tadej, and with the seven teammates who will continue in the race.”
UAE did not immediately provide a diagnosis, with Pogačar undergoing medical examinations after leaving the race by ambulance.
The crash also throws uncertainty over Pogačar’s preparations for the world championships, where the two-time defending champion is due to race later in September.