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Pogačar abandons Vuelta after stage-eight crash
Race leader Tadej Pogačar left the Vuelta after a fall, handing the overall lead to Enric Mas.
What happened
Tadej Pogačar abandoned the Vuelta a España during the eighth stage after falling near Xeraco. The overall leader tried to remount but stopped because of pain and was taken away by ambulance. Enric Mas took the race lead, while Bryan Coquard won the stage sprint.
Numbers
- 32 kmdistance from the stage finish — reported crash location
- 3 stage winswins during the first week — before his withdrawal
- Nearly 4 minuteslead over Enric Mas — before the eighth stage
Questions
- Who leads the race now?
- Mas inherited the red jersey after beginning the day nearly four minutes behind Pogačar in the overall standings.
- How did Pogačar build his margin?
- He led from the Monaco time trial, extended his advantage in Andorra, and completed a third stage victory in Castellón.
- What limited his return?
- The initial medical report listed head trauma and a clavicle fracture-dislocation, alongside severe pain and restricted use of his left arm.
- Was this a first for Pogačar?
- It was his first withdrawal from a Grand Tour, ending his attempt to add the Vuelta title to his collection.
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The catch
The cause of the crash remains unknown, and no treatment timetable has been announced.
Medical assessment is ongoing.