Pogacar Crashes Out of Vuelta After Hitting Stone, Mas Takes Lead

Tadej Pogacar, the overwhelming favorite and winner of three stages, abandoned the Vuelta a España after a crash caused by a stone on the road 32 kilometers from the finish. He suffered a head trauma and a fractured clavicle, potentially requiring surgery. Spanish rider Enric Mas now leads the general classification.

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The crash occurred during stage 8, a stage expected to be transitional, ending in Xeraco. Pogacar initially attempted to remount his bike after being treated, but intense pain in his left shoulder forced him to stop, and he was evacuated by ambulance. The UAE team director noted the rider appeared to be drinking water at the moment of the incident, though the precise cause remained unclear.

This marks the first Grand Tour abandonment of Pogacar's career. His only prior Vuelta appearance was in