Tadej Pogacar to undergo clavicle surgery after crash at Vuelta de España

Five-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar suffered a concussion and a broken left collarbone in a crash that forced his withdrawal from the Vuelta de España.

Published On 30 Aug 202630 Aug 2026

The Slovenian rider was sent head‑over‑handlebars in a frightening accident around 33 km from the finish of stage 8 on Saturday, losing control after a stone rolled onto the road. He crashed, hit his head and shoulder, and swerved into the path of other riders before flying over the handlebars.

“Tadej has been diagnosed with a concussion, a displaced left clavicle fracture, a stable C7 cervical fracture, and multiple abrasions,” said UAE Team Emirates medical director Adrian Rotunno. “Fortunately, no other major injuries and no neurological fallout. He will require clavicle surgery, which will be delayed due to concussion precautions. Tadej remains under the care of our medical team and we’ll provide further updates following the surgery,” Rotunno added.

Medical staff also treated Pogacar’s eyebrow and other wounds, and he required stitches. “It’s simply one of those things that happens in cycling, unfortunately,” said UAE Team Emirates sports manager Matxin Joxean Fernandez. “He initially wanted to keep going, but we saw he was in a lot of pain in his shoulder and decided he couldn’t continue. After seven days, Tadej was happy and it’s a very big shame for him. We hope he recovers as soon as possible because it’s not something too bad. We’re not going to think about that right now, but we’ll see what the doctor says.”

Pogacar, who had led the race after winning the opening stage, held a 3‑minute 50‑second advantage over Enric Mas of Movistar before the crash. His withdrawal opened the door for Mas to assume the race leadership.

Enric Mas takes lead

Más took the race leader’s red jersey from Pogacar, becoming the first Spanish rider to lead the Vuelta since Jesús Herrada in 2018. Felix Gall trailed by 1:11, with Primož Roglič third. “To get the red jersey thanks to a crash, it’s not a good feeling,” Mas told Eurosport. “We’ll try to defend it tomorrow, but tonight we need to assimilate what happened and give Tadej all our support and hopefully he will recover soon. We decided with the team that I was not going to wear the red jersey [today], and then if I deserve it tomorrow, I will wear it.”

Pogacar’s main rival, Jonas Vingegaard, is not competing in this Vuelta after a crash during this year’s Tour de France. The 31‑year‑old Mas did not wear the red jersey during post‑stage interviews, holding it up only in the ceremony.

This was Pogacar’s tenth Grand Tour and the first he has ever abandoned. He had never finished lower than third place, having won the Tour de France three consecutive times (a record‑tying fifth overall) in July and the Giro d’Italia in 2024. The three‑week race concludes in Granada on 13 September.

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