Tadej Pogačar Updates Fans with Hospital Photo Post-Crash as Mas Leads Vuelta

POLICY WIRE — Xeraco, Spain — Five-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar posted an image from the hospital on Sunday, showing him with a neck brace and bandages on his hand and face, following a crash during the Spanish Vuelta.

The Instagram post was set to the Bee Gees’ hit “Stayin’ Alive.” Pogačar was scheduled for surgery after a terrifying accident that led to his withdrawal from the Vuelta. He sustained a concussion and two broken bones when he lost control after a stone rolled across the road.

The Slovenian cyclist from UAE Team Emirates had a significant lead and was the favorite to win, aiming for a hat trick of cycling’s three Grand Tours. This marks Pogačar’s first abandonment in his 10th Grand Tour, having never finished lower than third place previously.

Enric Mas of Movistar now leads the race after Pogačar’s exit. Mas won the ninth stage, a mountainous route, beating Oscar Onley in a two-man sprint to the finish at Alto de Aitana. Primoz Roglic came in third, 12 seconds behind.

Mas has extended his lead to 1 minute, 18 seconds over Roglic and 1 minute, 39 seconds over Felix Gall. This is Mas’s second career Grand Tour stage win, his first being a Vuelta stage eight years ago.

The three-week Vuelta will conclude in Granada on September 13.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)