Pogacar abandons La Vuelta after heavy crash

Tadej Pogacar abandoned the 2026 Vuelta a Espana after a heavy crash during stage 8 from Pucol to Xeraco. The race leader went down around 32 kilometres from the finish, shortly before the climb to Barx, and could not continue because of severe pain in his left shoulder.

The accident happened on an apparently uncomplicated straight while the peloton was travelling at high speed and occupying most of the road. Pogacar, riding close to the left side, moved towards the centre and made contact with another rider. The impact sent the Slovenian and his bike to the ground.

Pogacar remained on the road with visible wounds to his face, shoulder and left arm. After receiving medical attention, he stood up and approached his bike, but the pain prevented him from restarting. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Valencia for examinations. No official diagnosis has yet been released by UAE Team Emirates-XRG, so a fracture cannot be confirmed.

The withdrawal completely changes La Vuelta. Pogacar led Enric Mas by 3:50 and Primoz Roglic by 4:50 after winning three stages. Mas inherits the red jersey before the mountain stage to Alto de Aitana, while Roglic, Felix Gall, Sepp Kuss, Oscar Onley and Richard Carapaz return to the fight for the overall victory.

It is Pogacar's first withdrawal from a professional stage race. His return to competition will depend on the medical tests, with the extent of the shoulder injury and its effect on his late-season objectives still unknown.