Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar crashes out of Vuelta a España

Slovenian cycling star Tadej Pogacar's bid to win the Vuelta a España has ended prematurely following a serious crash on the race's eighth stage. The reigning Tour de France champion went down hard approximately 32 kilometers from the finish line in Xeraco, forcing his immediate withdrawal from the Grand Tour.

Pogacar, who was considered a strong favorite to win the Vuelta – the only Grand Tour missing from his impressive palmarès – sustained injuries to his left shoulder and a bleeding wound to his head. He was transported away from the scene by ambulance. Before the crash, Pogacar had been in dominant form, having secured three stage victories and holding a commanding lead of 3 minutes and 50 seconds over Spain's Enric Mas in the general classification.

The fall not only ends his Vuelta campaign but also casts a shadow over his upcoming participation in the World Championships in Montreal this September. Pogacar, a two-time defending World Champion in the road race (2024 and 2025), will now face a race against time to recover and defend his title. His previous victories include five Tour de France titles and the 2024 Giro d'Italia, highlighting his status as one of the sport's most formidable talents.