Pogačar transferred to Barcelona hospital, surgery delayed after Vuelta crash
Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar was moved to a Barcelona hospital after abandoning the Vuelta a España; surgery on his broken collarbone has been postponed due to a concussion.
Tadej Pogačar was taken by ambulance from Gandia to a hospital in Barcelona after withdrawing from the Vuelta a España following a crash on stage 8. The 350 km transfer, which normally takes about four hours, was shown on television as the former race leader left the local facility on a stretcher.
Medical reports indicate that Pogačar sustained a fractured collarbone, a concussion and a stable fracture of the C7 vertebra in his neck. Because of the concussion, doctors have said the operation on his collarbone will be delayed until he recovers sufficiently.
"The vertebra fracture is stable and does not pose a risk to the spinal cord," his UAE team said.
Unconfirmed Spanish media reports suggested the surgery could occur later on Friday or on Monday, but no official timetable has been provided. The postponement has raised doubts about whether Pogačar will be able to compete again before the season ends.
Before the accident, the Slovenian rider was slated to race at the Road World Championships in Montreal, then the European Championships in Slovenia, and finish his year at Il Lombardia, a race he has won five times consecutively. His ability to meet those plans now remains uncertain.
The exact cause of the crash has not been established. Television footage shows the incident occurring in a large peloton without an obvious collision. The team described the incident as a "race situation" and declined to assign blame. Some observers have speculated that a small rock on the roadside may have caused Pogačar to lose balance, but no definitive evidence has emerged.
Pogačar posted a selfie to his Instagram story on Sunday, showing himself in a hospital bed wearing a soft neck brace and bandages on his face and hand, with the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" playing in the background.
The Vuelta continues with Enric Mas taking the race lead, refusing to wear the red leader's jersey on the podium out of respect for Pogačar. Mas holds a one-minute advantage over four-time Vuelta winner Primož Roglič ahead of stage 9, which features more than 5,000 metres of climbing and a summit finish at Alto de Aitana.