Tadej Pogacar 'happy to be alive' as he recalls 'scary' Vuelta crash

Paris, November 1 - Tadej Pogacar has disclosed he suffered three fractured vertebrae in a crash that ended his Vuelta a Espana season, expressing gratitude for merely surviving. The Slovenian cyclist was initially diagnosed with a fracture in his neck and a broken collarbone, but a subsequent CT scan revealed additional damage.

"Two weeks ago, I was in Slovenia and I went to do another CT scan. I knew I had a C7 fracture, but then we saw I had two more broken vertebrae, the T1 and T2," Pogacar told The Athletic. The five-time Tour de France champion said he is now largely back to normal life, although he remains cautious to avoid further injury. The initial weeks following the accident were particularly challenging, with Pogacar battling dizziness, nausea, and poor coordination due to concussion.

He underwent surgery, but recovery was both physically and mentally difficult. "It took one hour and 40 minutes, a long time, and when I got out of anaesthesia the doctor was trying to make some jokes, but I was not feeling it. I was really depressed after the surgery," Pogacar said. His mood improved once he resumed rehabilitation and indoor training.

While the neck fracture is considered stable, Pogacar warns that a future crash could have serious consequences.