Pogačar blames Vuelta crash on a rock and sets 2027 goals
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The gist
UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Tadej Pogačar says a big rock caused his Vuelta crash and calls other explanations fake news.
He targets the Worlds, Tour and Vuelta in 2027 after a season-ending concussion and fractures.
Background
Tadej Pogačar is a rider for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, described as the sport's top rider and the top-ranked rider of 2026. He crashed while leading stage 8 of the Vuelta a España in August, suffering a concussion and fractures to his collarbone and spine, and has been out of action since. With the road season entering the off-season and his recovery almost complete, he spoke at a charity golf event in Slovenia about what caused the crash and his plans for 2027.
How it unfolded
- Aug 2026Pogačar crashed while leading stage 8 of the Vuelta a España, suffering a concussion and fractures to his collarbone and spine; he has been out of action since.
- recentlySpeaking at a charity golf event in Slovenia, Pogačar said a big rock caused the crash and that everything else is fake news.
- recentlyAt the same event he confirmed his three goals for 2027: the World Championships, the Tour de France (chasing a record sixth yellow jersey) and the Vuelta a España.
Who’s saying what
- Rider
- Pogačar said the crash was caused by a big rock and dismissed other explanations as fake news.
Still unverified
Speculation had circulated about what caused Pogačar's high-speed crash in Spain; he said it was a big rock and that everything else is fake news.