Cycling star Tadej Pogacar, a five-time Tour de France champion, will not compete for the remainder of the season following a crash at the Vuelta a Espana. The Slovenian rider sustained multiple injuries, including a neck fracture, during the race's eighth stage last month.
Pogacar's injuries, which also included a broken collarbone, concussion, and abrasions, mean he will miss the opportunity to defend his titles at the upcoming World Championships in Montreal and the European Championships in Ljubljana. He will also be absent from Il Lombardia, the final one-day Monument race of the season.
“Of course, this isn't the way I wanted my season to finish,” Pogacar stated. He added that his focus is now on recovering properly and supporting his team from home, with plans to return in 2027. His team, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, confirmed the decision to allow him to return to full health without a set timeline for his competitive comeback. The team also announced that the 27-year-old has extended his contract by two years, securing his future until 2032.