Slovenian cycling champion Tadej Pogacar has been ruled out of the upcoming World Road Cycling Championships due to injuries sustained in a crash during the Vuelta a Espana last weekend. The five-time Tour de France winner suffered a concussion, a fractured C7 cervical vertebra, and an open clavicle fracture in the incident. Medical staff report that Pogacar is recovering well following surgery, though he will need extended time away from competition to heal properly.
Pogacar was positioned as a race leader when the crash occurred during stage eight of the 21-stage event. Had he remained healthy, he would have had the opportunity to become only the ninth cyclist ever to win all three Grand Tour races. His team, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, simultaneously announced a contract extension keeping him with the organization through 2032, signaling confidence in his future recovery and performance.
The absence of Pogacar at the Montreal-based World Championships, scheduled for September 20-27, removes a notable competitor from the event. Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel is expected to be among the championships’ main attractions, with the potential to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive time trial victory. The United States team will be anchored by Olympic road race gold medalist Kristen Faulkner and features several other accomplished competitors making their debuts or competing in new disciplines.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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