Race leader Tadej Pogacar has abandoned the Vuelta a Espana after crashing during stage eight of the three-week race. The 27-year-old world champion, who was aiming to complete a full set of Grand Tour victories, came off his bike with approximately 33km remaining in the stage.
Pogacar, a six-time Grand Tour winner with five Tours de France and a Giro d'Italia to his name, sustained injuries to his left shoulder and a cut on the left side of his face. He was reportedly riding in the peloton when the incident occurred.
The Slovenian, who had started the stage with a lead of three minutes and 50 seconds over the second-placed rider, appeared to attempt to remount his bike before sitting back down. He then walked unaided into an ambulance, marking his first Grand Tour abandonment.