Tadej Pogacar, the leader of La Vuelta a España, has fallen in the middle of stage 8, which takes place today in Valencia between the municipalities of Puçol and Xeraco. With 32 kilometers to go to the finish in the Valencian city, the Slovenian went down on a straight road for no apparent reason. It could have been the appearance of a stone on the asphalt or the sharpening with another rider.
The cyclist, current Tour champion and favorite for the Spanish tour, has been attended by medical services and later left the race in an ambulance with evident damage to the left clavicle.
According to the initial medical report of the rider, the Slovenian suffers a cranioencephalic trauma and a clavicular fracture-dislocation after his hard fall. The cyclist presents a significant functional limitation in the left arm and, due to the characteristics of the injury, may require surgical treatment.
The Slovenian initially got up after falling to the ground, but once the medical review was completed, and after speaking with his team manager, Joxean Fernández Maxín, he made a negative gesture and opted to abandon after pretending to get back on the bike. His shoulder was completely stained with blood.
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After withdrawing, the Slovenian broke down crying, aware that he was losing the opportunity to win the Spanish tour and thus achieve the three grand cycling races. Winner of five Tours, including the last edition, and winner of the 2024 Giro, this Spanish tour seemed like it would be the one to close his circle after the third place in 2019.
This withdrawal turns La Vuelta upside down and leaves the leadership to Enric Mas, who was 3’50” behind the Slovenian in the general classification. Primoz Roglic is now second, one minute behind the Spaniard. There are still almost two weeks left until the finish in Granada, but the favorite’s withdrawal opens the field to be the winner of this race.
The victory in a stage that was going to be transitional went to the young Belgian Bryan Coquard of Cofidis, who beat the specialist Max Pedersen in the sprint at Xeraco shortly after another pile-up formed about 100 meters from the finish.
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