Five-time Tour de France winner Pogacar posts selfie on social media after La Vuelta tournament-ending crash

Madrid, Aug 31 - After suffering a significant fall during the Vuelta a Espana, five-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar took to social media to share a selfie from the hospital. Accompanied by the Bee Gees' song Stayin' Alive, the photo showed Pogacar in a hospital bed, wearing a neck brace, with a plaster near his right eyebrow and on his right hand.

The UAE Team Emirates rider appeared to be in good spirits as he awaited surgery on his collarbone. The crash occurred during the eighth stage of the Vuelta a Espana, just over 30 kilometers from the finish line in the Valencian town of Xeraco. Pogacar, the overwhelming favorite for victory in the 21-day race, was diagnosed with a concussion, a displaced left clavicle fracture, a stable C7 cervical fracture, and multiple abrasions.

Despite no other major injuries or neurological fallout, there is uncertainty about how long Pogacar will be out of action, as he may not be fit to defend his world title in Canada later in September.