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Crash ends Vuelta lead
Tadej Pogacar crashed out of the Vuelta a España on stage eight while leading the race, with the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider going down with more than 30 km left in the ride from Pucol to Xeraco.
“went down in the peloton with more than 30 km (19 miles) left”
Reuters reported that Pogacar went down in the peloton with blood on his face and an injured shoulder, and that a television replay showed him swerving onto his right, colliding with another rider before going down.
UAE Team Emirates medical director Adrian Rotunno said Pogacar was diagnosed with a concussion, displaced left clavicle fracture, a stable C7 cervical fracture, and multiple abrasions, and that he would require clavicle surgery delayed due to concussion precautions.
The crash also ended Pogacar’s bid to complete a career clean sweep of the three Grand Tours, after he began stage eight with a lead of three minutes and 50 seconds over second-placed Enric Mas.
Mas takes red jersey
After Pogacar’s withdrawal, Enric Mas took the red jersey, with Reuters saying Mas became the first Spaniard to lead the Vuelta since Jesus Herrada in 2018.
Mas said, "It’s a real shame," and added, "I hope he gets better quickly," as the race continued without Pogacar.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG said Pogacar was stable following a thorough medical assessment at hospital, and Reuters quoted Rotunno saying there was "no neurological fallout" and that he would require clavicle surgery delayed due to concussion precautions.
The Independent described the moment of the crash as Pogacar appeared to hit a rock as he swerved suddenly while travelling in the midst of the peloton along a wide road, and it said he was immediately attended to by medical staff.
Surgery and next races
UAE Team Emirates-XRG said Pogacar would undergo clavicle surgery in the coming days, with the procedure delayed due to concussion precautions, and the team did not provide a timeline for expected recovery.
“Pogačar will undergo surgery to his collarbone in the coming days”
Bicycling Australia said Pogacar’s Vuelta dream ended after a heavy crash on stage eight, and it described him as needing surgery on his fractured clavicle while doctors managed the concussion.
The New York Times reported that the next race Pogacar is slated to race is the World Championships, with the road race in four weeks’ time on September 27, and it said he was taken away in an ambulance to a nearby hospital.
Joxean Fernández Matxin, UAE sports manager, said, "We’re going to see what the doctor says, and we’ll make decisions and conclusions after his report," as the team focused on his recovery after the abandonment.