Tadej Pogačar Undergoes Successful Surgery After La Vuelta Crash

Tadej Pogačar Undergoes Successful Surgery After La Vuelta Crash

Tadej Pogačar has successfully undergone surgery on his fractured left collarbone following the crash that forced him to abandon La Vuelta a España 2026.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed that the world champion received medical clearance for the operation after initially having the procedure delayed because of concussion precautions.

The surgery on Pogačar’s left clavicle went well, according to the team’s medical director Dr Adrian Rotunno.

Pogačar will remain in hospital for several days for post-operative monitoring before returning home to begin his rehabilitation.

A Sudden End to Pogačar’s Vuelta

The Slovenian star was forced to abandon La Vuelta during Stage 8 after crashing with around 32 kilometres remaining.

Pogačar hit a large rock at the side of the road and went down at high speed. He initially attempted to continue, but the pain eventually forced him to abandon the race.

At the time of the crash, Pogačar was wearing the red jersey and had a 3:50 advantage over Enric Mas in the general classification.

He had also won three stages during the race and was attempting to complete his collection of Grand Tour victories by adding La Vuelta to his Tour de France and Giro d’Italia titles.

Injuries Confirmed

Medical examinations following the crash revealed a concussion, a displaced fracture of the left collarbone and a stable C7 cervical fracture.

Pogačar also suffered multiple abrasions, although UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed that no other major injuries or neurological damage had been detected.

The collarbone fracture required surgery, but doctors first had to ensure that Pogačar had progressed sufficiently through the concussion protocol before giving the green light for the procedure.

What Happens Next?

Pogačar’s immediate focus will now be recovery and rehabilitation.

After leaving hospital, he will continue his recovery under the supervision of UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s medical staff.

The major question is whether the four-time world champion can return to racing before the end of the 2026 season.

The World Championships in Montréal are scheduled for September 27, meaning Pogačar has less than four weeks from the time of his surgery to recover from his injuries and return to competitive racing.

A Return to the World Championships?

Pogačar’s participation in Montréal remains uncertain.

Members of his entourage have not completely ruled out a return, but UAE team boss Mauro Gianetti admitted that competing at the World Championships currently does not look likely.

For now, the priority is Pogačar’s health and a safe recovery.

The cycling world will be watching closely for further updates as the Slovenian begins the next stage of his rehabilitation.

SPORTVIAX will continue to follow Tadej Pogačar’s recovery and provide the latest updates on his potential return to racing.