Pogacar 'happy to be alive' after 'scary' crash

Five-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar expressed gratitude for surviving a crash that left him with three fractured vertebrae, two months after the incident. The 28-year-old Slovenian was forced to withdraw from competitions after the Vuelta a Espana in August, necessitating surgery for a broken collarbone and subsequent scans revealing additional injuries to his neck.

Pogacar acknowledged his initial relief at not competing in the European Championships, his original target. However, upon discovering the severity of the fractures—C7, T1, and T2—he expressed profound relief at simply being alive. Pogacar also suffered a concussion during the crash, which left him grappling with dizziness, nausea, and coordination issues, making daily tasks like showering challenging.

His return to training and rehabilitation marked a difficult period, during which he admitted to feeling mentally unwell and not enjoyable to be around. Pogacar's recovery has been gradual, but he now feels confident in his ability to perform daily activities without discomfort. UAE Team Emirates-XRG, his team, decided to postpone his return to competition until 2027 to ensure complete healing.

Pogacar remains cautious, emphasizing the need for carefulness and mindfulness after a crash. He acknowledges his good fortune in walking away from the incident unharmed, urging others to take the situation seriously.