Tadej Pogacar to Undergo Surgery for Broken Collarbone Following Severe Vuelta Crash

Five-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar was forced to withdraw from the Spanish Vuelta after suffering a frightening crash that resulted in a concussion and broken bones, requiring surgery.

The incident occurred on Saturday, approximately 33km from the finish of the eighth stage, when Tadej Pogacar appeared to lose control after a stone rolled across the road. UAE Team Emirates medical director Adrian Rotunno stated that the Slovenian rider was diagnosed with a concussion, a displaced left clavicle fracture, a stable C7 cervical fracture, and multiple abrasions. Rotunno noted that while clavicle surgery is required, it will be delayed due to concussion precautions, and Tadej Pogacar remains under the care of the medical team.

Before the crash, Tadej Pogacar held a commanding lead in the Vuelta and was heavily favored to secure the title, which would have completed a hat-trick of cycling’s three Grand Tours. He had won the Tour de France for a third successive time and a record-tying fifth overall in July, alongside his victory at the Giro d’Italia in 2024. Attempting to become the ninth male rider to win all three Grand Tour races, this marked Tadej Pogacar's 10th Grand Tour and the first he has ever abandoned.

TV video footage showed Tadej Pogacar with cuts on his head, left arm, and shoulder after swerving right to avoid something in the road, losing control, and flying over his handlebars. UAE Team Emirates sports manager Matxin Joxean Fernandez explained that the rider initially wanted to continue but was in too much pain.

Following the incident, Enric Mas of Movistar took over the race leader's jersey, gaining an advantage over Felix Gall and Primoz Roglic. Enric Mas expressed that taking the red jersey due to a crash did not feel good and chose not to wear it during the post-race ceremony or TV interviews out of respect for Tadej Pogacar, whom he wished a speedy recovery. The three-week race concludes in Granada on September 13.