Tadej Pogačar had already forged a strong lead in the red jersey of the Vuelta a España before stage 8, but a heavy crash 33 km from the finish ended his Spanish adventure.
Cor Vos
Tadej Pogačar has crashed out of the Vuelta a España.
33 km from the end of stage 8, the race leader and dominant rider of the first week crashed hard as the peloton was pelting towards the only climb of a stage likely to end in a sprint, and he hit the ground very very hard.
Moments after, he was shown sitting on the tarmac holding his left arm. He tried to get going after some swift treatment to a bloodied face, but it only took him touching the bars to realise that his arm was essentially unusable.
With the front of the peloton briefly neutralised by the other teams on the Puerto de Barx, Pogačar retreated back to the roadside and sat back down, trying to catch his breath. A minute or two later, he stood up again, but this time he was not approaching his bike, rather a stretcher – which he did not accept – and the cold welcome of the back of an ambulance.
Update 2100 CEST: UAE medical director Dr Adrian Rotunno has confirmed the extent of Pogačar’s injuries, saying in the team’s statement that “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. Fortunately, no other major injuries and no neurological fallout.”
Pogačar will undergo surgery to his collarbone in the coming days, leaving time for concussion protocols. The team has not given a timeline for expected recovery, but an update can be expected following surgery.
This post is for subscribers only
Subscribe now
Already have an account? Sign in
Did we do a good job with this story?
👍Yep
👎Nope