Tadej Pogacar pulls out of Vuelta a España after heavy fall on stage eight

Tadej Pogacar, the UAE Team Emirates‑XRG rider who led the Vuelta a España, abandoned the race after a severe crash on Saturday. The 31‑kilometre fall, which occurred 31 km from the finish of a flat stage, left him with a shoulder injury and facial bruising, prompting medical staff to transport him in an ambulance to the hospital. The incident forced the 29‑year‑old to withdraw from the 21‑day Spanish Grand Tour, ending his bid for a first overall Vuelta victory.

Pogacar, a five‑time Tour de France champion and winner of the Giro d’Italia, had been targeting the Vuelta to join the elite group of riders who have won all three grand tours. His exit not only alters the race’s competitive landscape but also removes a key contender for the overall classification. The race will continue without the leader, who is expected to recover before the next major event in the cycling calendar.