Crash and medical recovery

Tadej Pogacar has ended his 2026 racing season after sustaining multiple fractures in a crash during stage eight of the Vuelta a Espana. The 27-year-old Slovenian rider was leading the general classification by three minutes and 50 seconds over Movistar rider Enric Mas when he crashed on an open stretch of road. Medical examinations revealed a concussion, a displaced left collarbone fracture, and a stable fracture to the C7 vertebra in his neck. Pogacar underwent surgery on his left clavicle on September 1 and was discharged from the hospital wearing a neck brace. UAE Team Emirates-XRG medical director Adrian Rotunno confirmed that Pogacar faces a structured rehabilitation process.

“The post-operative clavicle and cervical fracture will both require a structured period of rehabilitation.”

Title defences abandoned

The decision to stop racing for the year prevents Pogacar from defending his road race title at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal on September 27. The Slovenian won the rainbow jersey in Zurich in 2024 and retained it on the hilly course in Kigali in 2025. His withdrawal also rules him out of the European Championship road race scheduled for next month in Ljubljana. In addition, Pogacar will miss the season-ending Italian Monument Il Lombardia, an event he has won for five consecutive years. His absence opens opportunities at the world championships for competitors including Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel, French rider Paul Seixas, and UAE teammate Isaac Del Toro.

“Of course, this isn't the way I wanted my season to finish. Right now, the most important thing is to recover properly and give my body the time it needs.”

Contract extension through 2032

Alongside the announcement of his competitive hiatus, UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed that Pogacar has extended his contract by two years through the end of 2032. Pogacar originally joined the setup in 2019, and the new agreement positions him to spend 13 seasons with the squad. The renewal follows a long-term contract extension signed by Mexican teammate Isaac Del Toro. Team management indicated that rushing Pogacar back into competition would provide no medical benefit. The team stated that Pogacar will focus on his physical recovery at home before resuming preparation for the 2027 calendar.

Career trajectory and Grand Tour pursuit

Pogacar secured his fifth Tour de France title earlier in the summer, matching the all-time victory record in that event. He holds six career Grand Tour victories after winning the 2024 Giro d'Italia and was competing to become the ninth rider in cycling history to win all three Grand Tours. The Slovenian held a commanding position in Spain before the eighth-stage crash ended his pursuit of a first Vuelta victory. Pogacar expressed confidence in his long-term future with his current squad as he prepares to transition into his recovery program.

“There is still a lot I want to achieve in this sport and I believe this is the right place to do it. I'm very grateful for the trust the team has shown in me and excited about what we can continue to build together.”