Slovenian star Tadej Pogacar, the dominant five‑time Tour de France winner, pulled out of the Vuelta a España on Saturday following a serious crash during the eighth stage. The incident occurred about 33 kilometers from the finish line on a flat 171‑kilometer route from Puçol to Xeraco, a stage designed for sprinters.
According to race officials, Pogacar swerved to avoid an obstacle, collided with several riders, and was thrown over his handlebars, striking his head and left shoulder. He attempted to remount his bike but was unable to continue and was escorted to an ambulance.
Impact on the Race
Before the crash, Pogacar held a commanding lead of 3 minutes and 50 seconds over Spaniard Enric Mas of Movistar. His withdrawal handed the race leader’s jersey to Mas, marking the first time a Spanish rider has led the Vuelta since Jesús Herrada in 2018. Felix Gall moved into second place, 1 minute and 11 seconds behind Mas, while Primož Roglič occupies third.
The stage was won by Bryan Coquard of Cofidis, who out‑sprinted Mads Pedersen and Jordi Meeus at the finish line.
What This Means for Pogacar
Pogacar was attempting to become only the ninth male cyclist to win all three Grand Tours in a career. He secured his third consecutive Tour de France victory in July, tying the record with five overall wins, and added a Giro d’Italia title in 2024. He has not competed in the Vuelta since his debut at the event in 2019.
His main rival, Jonas Vingegaard, is also absent from the Vuelta after a crash in this year’s Tour de France.
Looking Ahead
The three‑week Vuelta will conclude in Granada on September 13, with the remaining contenders vying for the overall title now that Pogacar is out of contention.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
