Injury Update

Pogacar Out! Now Gall’s Dream of Victory Lives On

Tadej Pogacar (left) crashed heavily; Felix Gall benefits at the Vuelta.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/EPA/LUCA ZENNARO, x.com Screenshot Eurosport)

The Vuelta a España came to an abrupt end on Saturday for the dominant leader, Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian suffered a serious crash in the middle of the peloton on a flat, straight section of the course about 30 kilometers before the finish of the eighth stage. The world champion hit the asphalt headfirst and suffered a displaced fracture of his left collarbone and a stable fracture of his seventh cervical vertebra. With the race’s dominant rider out of contention, Felix Gall’s chances of securing his first Grand Tour victory have significantly increased.

A few hours after the stage ended, it was confirmed that Pogacar’s season was likely over prematurely. UAE team doctor Adrian Rotunno announced the extent of the injury following an examination at the hospital. In addition to the fractures, Pogacar suffered a concussion and numerous abrasions.

Pogacar Will Need Surgery
“He will need surgery on his collarbone. However, this procedure will be postponed for now due to the precautions required in cases of concussion,” Rotunno said. This likely means the season is over for Pogacar. A collarbone fracture typically requires a recovery period of at least six weeks. The World Championship road race will take place on September 27 in Montreal.

The cause of the superstar’s rather bizarre crash was initially unclear; there was speculation that an object on the road had triggered it. A video on X shows a rock causing the crash.

For the first time in his illustrious career—which already includes 130 stage race victories—Pogacar was forced to withdraw from a stage race. The 27-year-old had celebrated a string of triumphs this season, just as he had in previous years. In July, he won the Tour de France for the fifth time; in Spain, he was aiming to claim one of the last major victories still missing from his resume during his second appearance in the Vuelta.

Here’s the crash on video:

Spain’s Mas is the new leader; Gall is third
After three stage wins, the UAE team captain was already nearly four minutes ahead of his closest pursuer, Enric Mas. Following the drama surrounding Pogacar, the Spaniard will start Sunday’s stage as the new race leader. Felix Gall, in third place, trails Mas by 1:11 minutes; four-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic is just eleven seconds ahead of the rider from East Tyrol. On Sunday, before the first rest day, a grueling mountain stage with 5,000 meters of climbing will take place, which could shake up the standings once again.

“It’s a strange feeling—and not a good one—to take over the leader’s jersey after Tadej’s crash,” said Mas, extending his best wishes for a speedy recovery to the Slovenian. Out of respect for Pogacar, the Movistar pro did not put on the red jersey during the podium ceremony. On the home stretch of the eighth stage from Pucol to Xeraco (171 km), there were further crashes in the bunch sprint. After a chaotic day, the victory went to Frenchman Bryan Coquard of Team Cofidis.