Tadej Pogacar’s injury ends 2026 season after Vuelta crash

Tadej Pogacar will not race again in 2026 after the injuries he suffered in a heavy crash during the Vuelta a España. The fall has also halted his attempt to win all three Grand Tours in the same season, ending a campaign in which he had been leading the race decisively.

The UAE Emirates rider crashed on the eighth stage on 29 August and abandoned the Vuelta. He sustained a concussion, a displaced fracture of the left collarbone, a stable fracture to the C7 cervical vertebra and several bruises. Pogacar, 27, is a five-time Tour de France winner and has also claimed two world titles.

Teammate Tim Wellens said the collarbone injury was especially severe, describing the bone as badly shattered rather than simply broken. He added that Pogacar’s rehabilitation is progressing well, but said the team had quickly understood after the crash that a return to competition before the end of the year was not realistic.

The timetable for Pogacar’s return to cycling remains unknown. His premature season-ending absence removes one of the sport’s leading riders from the remainder of the calendar, although Wellens said Pogacar remains strongly motivated by training, racing and winning. The immediate priority is recovery from the multiple injuries sustained in Spain.