Bloodied Pogacar pulls out of Vuelta a Espana after heavy fall

Xeraco, Spain - Race leader Tadej Pogacar withdrew from the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday following a severe fall 31km from the stage-eight finish, sustaining injuries such as a fractured collarbone and cervical fracture. Spaniard Enric Mas took over the lead with Austrian Felix Gall and former champion Primoz Roglic trailing at 3:11 minutes.

Pogacar, a five-time Tour de France champion and Giro d'Italia winner, was attempting to claim his first overall victory in the Spanish 21-day race. The Slovenian rider lost control on a seemingly normal stretch of road, tumbling over his handlebars head-first, landing on his shoulder and face. Despite initial efforts to remount his bike, Pogacar signaled he wanted to stop and was eventually taken to an ambulance.

His team informed that he would undergo clavicle surgery, likely delayed due to his concussion. Mas claimed the overall lead, followed by Pogacar's Austrian teammate Felix Gall and Primoz Roglic in third place.