Pogacar crashes out of Vuelta a España

Tadej Pogacar's bid for a Vuelta a España victory ended abruptly on Saturday when he crashed out of the race during the eighth stage. The dominant Slovenian cyclist fell approximately 32 kilometers from the finish line near the climb of Alto de Barx. Pogacar, who held a commanding lead of nearly four minutes over his closest rival, was considered the overwhelming favorite to win the Grand Tour.

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The topetazo left him with a fractured collarbone and a more than bruised left arm; the Slovenian complained ostentatiously of his shoulder.

The incident occurred on a straight section of road with no apparent hazards. Pogacar, positioned on the left side of the peloton, made a sudden move to the right, colliding with another rider. The impact left him with a fractured collarbone and a severely bruised left arm. He was seen in considerable pain, clutching his shoulder.

Medical personnel attended to Pogacar on the roadside. Although he managed to stand, he was unable to remount his bicycle due to the intense pain. He subsequently boarded an ambulance, signaling the end of his Vuelta campaign. The peloton slowed in respect after the crash but soon resumed its usual pace.

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He managed to get back on his feet, but upon trying to get back on his bike, he decided to abandon due to the severe pain.

This withdrawal marks a significant blow to the Vuelta, as Pogacar was the only rider widely seen as capable of challenging for the final victory. His absence leaves the race wide open. Pogacar has had few crashes in his career, with a notable wrist fracture at Liège–Bastogne–Liège being the most significant prior injury. The Vuelta was the only Grand Tour he had yet to win.

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The peloton, aware of the situation, initially slowed down, a sign of respect for the best rider and the red jersey.