Tadej Pogacar requires surgical procedure on a damaged collarbone after sustaining a number of accidents within the crash that led to him abandoning the Vuelta a Espana.
Race chief and world champion Pogacar, who was aiming to finish a full set of Grand Tour victories, crashed with about 33km remaining of Saturday’s eighth stage and was taken to hospital.
In an replace on Saturday evening, his crew’s physician stated the 27-year-old suffered a concussion, a “secure” fracture in his neck and a number of abrasions, along with his damaged left clavicle (collarbone).
“Happily, no different main accidents and no neurological fallout,” stated Dr Adrian Rotunno, UAE Staff Emirates’ medical director.
“He would require clavicle surgical procedure which will likely be delayed as a consequence of concussion precautions.
“Tadej stays beneath the care of our medical crew and we’ll present additional updates following the surgical procedure.”
Pogacar was driving within the midst of the peloton when he got here off his bike, having instantly swerved to his proper and colliding with one other rider. He was hit from behind by a number of different riders.
The Slovenian appeared to attempt to get again on his bike earlier than shaking his head and sitting down once more.
He then walked unaided into an ambulance. It’s the first time he has deserted a Grand Tour.
The overwhelming favorite to win the three-week race had began the stage three minutes 50 seconds away from Spaniard Enric Mas in second place.
In what was a chaotic race, one other crash occurred within the ending straight as France’s Bryan Coquard claimed his first stage win in a Grand Tour.
The 34-year-old edged Lidl-Trek rider Mads Pedersen in a photograph end.
“I believe it has been 13 years – it has been plenty of work and I’ve completed second plenty of occasions,” Coquard informed TNT Sports activities.
“I’ve not been in good positions within the first two sprints, I do know I’ve good legs. Perhaps I climb higher now, I’m quick once more.”
Movistar rider Mas now leads the final classification by one minute 11 seconds from Decathlon CMA CGM rider Felix Gall.
He’s the primary Spaniard to steer the Vuelta since Jesus Herrada in 2018 however a sombre Mas opted to not put on the pink jersey when introduced with it on the rostrum, as an alternative holding it in entrance of him.
“It is an actual disgrace,” Mas stated about Pogacar. “I hope he will get higher shortly. We have nonetheless received a couple of races left and I hope he’ll be in good condition for them.”
Six-time Grand Tour winner Pogacar was on target to win all three of the game’s greatest stage races, having already gained 5 Excursions de France and a Giro d’Italia.
Having turn out to be the joint most profitable Tour de France champion of all time final month, the UAE Staff Emirates-XRG rider is aiming to turn out to be the ninth rider to win all three Grand Excursions.
Pogacar has additionally gained virtually the entire sport’s greatest races. Along with his a number of stage race victories, the two-time street world champion has gained 13 one-day monument races, together with the Tour of Flanders (thrice), Milan-San Remo (as soon as), Il Lombardia (5 occasions) and Liege-Bastogne-Liege (4 occasions).
In 2025, he recorded his finest end of second within the different monument – Paris-Roubaix.
