Five-time Tour de France champion and top contender Tadej Pogacar withdrew from the Spanish Vuelta following a crash in the eighth stage held on Saturday. Despite maintaining a significant lead in the race, the Slovenian was involved in an incident approximately 33 kilometers from the finish line. Despite attempting to resume cycling, he eventually had to abandon the race and seek medical assistance. Organizers of the event confirmed his withdrawal.
Pogacar, the leader of UAE Team Emirates, aimed to join the elite group of male riders who have triumphed in all three Grand Tour races. Having secured his third consecutive Tour de France victory and a record-equalling fifth overall in July, along with a Giro d’Italia win in 2024, he had not participated in the Vuelta since his Grand Tour debut in 2019.
Television footage captured Pogacar sustaining injuries to his head, left arm, and shoulder. The accident occurred as he veered into fellow cyclists in an attempt to avoid an obstacle on the road. Following his loss of control, the Tour de France champion was thrown over his handlebars, resulting in injuries to his head and shoulder.
Matxin Joxean Fernandez, the sports manager of UAE Team Emirates, disclosed that Pogacar required stitches for injuries sustained on his eyebrow and other areas. Fernandez acknowledged the unforeseeable nature of such incidents in cycling and emphasized Pogacar’s initial intention to persevere before the severity of his shoulder pain necessitated his withdrawal.
Enric Mas of Movistar assumed the race leader position from Pogacar, holding a 3-minute, 50-second advantage before the stage on Saturday. Mas became the first Spanish rider to lead the Vuelta since 2018. Felix Gall trailed in second place, 1 minute and 11 seconds behind, with Primoz Roglic securing third position.
Mas, a 31-year-old rider, refrained from donning the leader’s red jersey following the race, expressing his discomfort at acquiring it due to Pogacar’s misfortune. He underscored the team’s decision not to wear the jersey immediately and emphasized extending support to Pogacar for a swift recovery.
Jonas Vingegaard, Pogacar’s primary competitor, did not participate in the Vuelta after sustaining injuries in this year’s Tour de France. Notably, this marked Pogacar’s first abandonment in his tenth Grand Tour appearance, having consistently finished within the top three positions.
The Vuelta, a three-week race, is slated to conclude in Granada on September 13.