Pogacar to have surgery on broken collarbone after horrific Vuelta crash | Cycling
Pogacar Withdraws from Vuelta Following Serious Crash
Published August 30, 2026
Five-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar was forced to withdraw from the Spanish Vuelta after a severe crash that occurred Saturday during the eighth stage of the race. The 25-year-old Slovenian cyclist was involved in a frightening incident when his bike hit a stone on the road, causing him to lose control and crash head-over-handlebars.
According to Adrian Rotunno, medical director for UAE Team Emirates, Pogacar suffered a concussion and sustained two fractures: a displaced left clavicle fracture and a stable C7 cervical fracture. Rotunno confirmed that while Pogacar will require surgery for his clavicle, he has no other major injuries or neurological complications. The surgery will be postponed due to concussion protocols, and Pogacar remains under medical care, with further updates planned after the operation.
Prior to his crash, Pogacar was leading the Vuelta and was among the favorites to win, which would have marked a historic achievement of securing victories in all three Grand Tours—he previously won the Giro d’Italia in 2024 and the Tour de France for the third consecutive time in July. However, the incident occurred approximately 33 kilometers from the finish line of the stage, where Pogacar attempted to remount his bike but ultimately walked to an ambulance. Race officials confirmed his withdrawal shortly after.
Video footage from the crash showed Pogacar experiencing visible cuts and abrasions on his head, left arm, and shoulder as he swerved to avoid obstacles in the road. He lost control and fell heavily, impacting his head and shoulder.
UAE Team Emirates sports manager Matxin Joxean Fernandez stated that Pogacar required stitches for his injuries, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of cycling. “It’s simply one of those things that happens in cycling, unfortunately,” Fernandez remarked. He noted that while Pogacar initially expressed a desire to continue, team officials recognized he was in considerable pain and decided it was best for him to stop.
In the aftermath of the stage, Pogacar held a lead of 3 minutes and 50 seconds over Enric Mas of Movistar. The eighth stage, which spanned 171 kilometers from Pucol to Xeraco, was more favorable for sprinters, resulting in Bryan Coquard of Cofidis claiming the stage victory ahead of competitors Mads Pedersen and Jordi Meeus.
Following the stage, Mas took over the race leader’s jersey, becoming the first Spanish rider to do so since Jesus Herrada in 2018. He declined to wear the jersey during the post-race ceremony, instead choosing to hold it up in recognition of Pogacar’s misfortune. “To get the red jersey thanks to a crash, it’s not a good feeling,” Mas conveyed through Eurosport. “We’ll try to defend it tomorrow, but tonight we need to assimilate what happened and give Tadej all our support.”
Notably, Pogacar’s primary rival, Jonas Vingegaard, is not participating in the Vuelta following his own crash during this year’s Tour de France.
This marks Pogacar’s tenth Grand Tour appearance and the first time he has abandoned a race, having never finished lower than third in previous competitions. The Spanish Vuelta is set to conclude in Granada on September 13.
