Collarbone break ends Pogacar bid for Veulta crown

Race leader Tadej Pogacar pulled out of the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday after suffering a fractured collarbone and other injuries from a fall 31km from the end of the eighth stage, with Spaniard Enric Mas inheriting the overall lead.

The stage was won by French sprinter Bryan Coquard, catching Danish rider Mads Pedersen right on the line at the beach resort of Xeraco with its protected wetlands.

Pogacar, who rarely falls heavily, has won five Tour de France titles and a Giro d’Italia and was hunting his first overall victory in the 21-day Spanish race.

Tadej Pogacar is seen entering an ambulance after crashing on a giant screen in the finish area of the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday.

Photo: AFP

Pogacar hit the road surface after swerving suddenly on an innocuous stretch of road, losing control, flying head-first over his handlebars and landing on his shoulder and face.

With his entire team stopping and waiting, the peloton at first slowed down but then carried on after the Slovenian rider tried to remount several minutes later, but cried out “no” and exhibited pain when he touched his bike.

He was led to an ambulance as his teammates set off up the broad and freshly-laid dual carriageway toward the finish line at Xeraco, near Valencia, with the look of a defeated army, nine minutes off the pace.

Pogacar had been leading Mas by 3:50. This is the first time the 27-year-old has failed to finish a Grand Tour.

His team confirmed he had sustained a displaced left clavicle fracture, a cervical fracture and a concussion.

“Fortunately, [he has suffered] no other major injuries and no neurological fallout,” UAE’s team medical director Adrian Rotunno said in a statement. “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,” he added.

Mas is 1:11 ahead of Austrian Felix Gall and former champion Primoz Roglic is third at 1:33.

In July, Pogacar joined a select group of five-time Tour de France winners with Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.

He is the youngest rider to have won five Tours, more than a year younger than Merckx, and is the first person to finish on the podium seven years running.

He is also the only rider to have been on the podium in nine consecutive Grand Tours.