Pogacar's Season Cut Short After Vuelta Crash

Tadej Pogacar, a five-time Tour de France winner, has officially ended his current racing season. The decision comes after a crash during the recent Vuelta a Espana resulted in injuries requiring surgical intervention. Pogacar's team, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, confirmed his season's conclusion on Saturday, September 5th, 2026, as he prioritizes his recovery. He expressed that this was not the desired way to finish his season but emphasized the necessity of a proper healing period for his body.

The Slovenian cyclist underwent surgery on his left clavicle on Monday, September 1st, 2026. According to the team's medical director, Adrian Rotunno, both the post-operative clavicle and cervical fractures will require a structured rehabilitation period. Despite this setback, Pogacar also announced an extension of his contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, committing him to the team until 2032. He stated that the team has felt like home since he joined in 2019 and that he believes it is the right place to achieve his future ambitions in the sport.