Five-time Tour de France winner and top contender Tadej Pogacar withdrew from the Spanish Vuelta following a crash on the eighth stage of the race on Saturday. Despite holding a significant lead, the Slovenian cyclist was involved in a crash approximately 33 kilometers from the finish line. While attempting to continue, he ultimately had to abandon the race and seek medical attention. Race officials confirmed his withdrawal.
Pogacar, the leader of UAE Team Emirates, aimed to achieve a rare feat by winning all three Grand Tour races. Having secured victory in the Tour de France for the third consecutive time and his fifth overall win in July, as well as claiming the Giro d’Italia title in 2024, he was pursuing a historic achievement. The incident marked his return to the Vuelta after debuting at the event in 2019.
Footage from the race showed Pogacar sustaining injuries to his head, left arm, and shoulder. He veered into fellow cyclists as he attempted to avoid an obstacle on the road, leading to losing control and crashing over his handlebars. UAE Team Emirates sports manager Matxin Joxean Fernandez disclosed that Pogacar required stitches for injuries, including his eyebrow.
Fernandez commented, “It’s no one’s fault… It’s just one of those unfortunate incidents in cycling. Initially, he wanted to continue, but due to significant shoulder pain, we decided it was best for him to withdraw. There isn’t much more to say.”
Enric Mas of Movistar took over the race lead from Pogacar after the incident, with a 3-minute and 50-second advantage. Mas became the first Spanish rider to lead the race since 2018. Mas expressed mixed feelings about receiving the leader’s jersey under such circumstances, emphasizing support for Pogacar’s recovery.
Jonas Vingegaard, Pogacar’s primary rival, did not participate in the Vuelta following a crash in this year’s Tour de France. This marked Pogacar’s first Grand Tour abandonment in his ten appearances, having never finished lower than third place. The Vuelta is set to conclude in Granada on September 13.