Tadej Pogačar Out of Vuelta After Crash; Shoulder Injury Confirmed

Tadej Pogačar's bid to win the Vuelta a España has ended abruptly after a significant crash during the race's eighth stage. The Slovenian star, who was the overwhelming favorite, fell heavily approximately 32 kilometers from the finish line in Xeraco. He was seen to be injured in his left shoulder and sustained a bleeding head wound, necessitating his removal from the race by ambulance.

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He wanted to continue, but his shoulder hurt incredibly. He was bleeding from the eyebrow. He had to be stitched up.

Initial reports from his UAE team indicated uncertainty regarding the extent of his injuries. Team sports director Matxin Fernandez stated, "He wanted to continue, but his shoulder hurt incredibly. He was bleeding from the eyebrow. He had to be stitched up." Fernandez added that no one was responsible for the crash, attributing it to the inherent risks of professional cycling.

Pogačar's withdrawal marks a disappointing end to his pursuit of a Vuelta victory, a Grand Tour title that has eluded him thus far. He had been in dominant form, leading the general classification by a substantial margin of 3 minutes and 50 seconds over his closest rival, Enric Mas, after winning three stages. This setback also casts doubt on his participation in the upcoming World Championships in Montreal, where he is the defending champion.

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For that, no one is responsible. These are things that happen in cycling. We don't know exactly what happened.

This incident is a rare occurrence for Pogačar, who has a history of avoiding major crashes. While he suffered a scaphoid fracture after a fall in the 2023 Liège–Bastogne–Liège classic, most of his previous crashes have resulted in minor injuries. Notably, he had a perfect record of finishing every Grand Tour he started prior to this event.

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It hurts. Not the end anyone hoped for.