Pogacar moved to Barcelona hospital as doubts grow over remainder of 2026 season

Pogačar was initially taken to the Sant Francesc de Borja hospital in Gandia after Friday's crash near Simat de la Valldigna, where he underwent his first medical examinations. 

He was transferred by ambulance to Barcelona overnight where is expected to undergo surgery on his displaced left collarbone fracture, although the operation has been delayed because of the concussion he sustained in the crash.

Local television footage captured Pogačar leaving the hospital in Gandia on a stretcher. Despite being wrapped up and prepared for the ambulance journey, he appeared in good spirits and smiled at members of the hospital staff as he was taken away.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed on Saturday night that Pogačar had sustained a concussion, a broken left collarbone and a stable fracture of the C7 vertebra in his neck, as well as several abrasions. The team stressed that there was no neurological damage and that the cervical fracture was stable.

Pogačar gave the first public glimpse of his condition on Sunday morning, posting a photograph from his hospital bed on Instagram. Wearing a neck brace, with visible wounds and dressings following the crash, the Slovenian accompanied the image with the Bee Gees classic Stayin' Alive, adding a characteristically light touch to an otherwise serious situation.

The crash brought an abrupt end to what had been a dominant Vuelta campaign. Pogačar had won three of the opening seven stages and held a lead of almost four minutes over Enric Mas before going down with 32 kilometres remaining on stage 8. He briefly attempted to continue but was unable to remount and eventually left the race by ambulance.

It was the first time in his career that Pogačar had abandoned a Grand Tour.

Attention now turns to whether the world champion will race again this season.

Before the full extent of the injuries became known, UAE Team Emirates-XRG manager Matxin Joxean Fernández had not ruled out a return in time for the World Championships in Montreal. At that stage, however, the team was still waiting for the results of Pogačar's medical examinations.

The subsequent diagnosis has changed the picture considerably.

Pogačar had been scheduled to defend his world title in Montreal before racing the European Championships on home roads in Slovenia. His traditional final target of the year was then set to be Il Lombardia, where he is chasing a sixth consecutive victory.

Whether any of those races remain realistic will depend on his recovery from both the concussion and the fractures.

The concussion is particularly important in determining the immediate next steps. Pogačar must first recover sufficiently for doctors to carry out the collarbone operation, after which the team will be able to make a clearer assessment of his rehabilitation and any possible return to competition.

For now, UAE has offered no indication of when that could be.

What had looked set to be another historic final part of the season, with Pogačar on course to complete his Grand Tour set by adding the Vuelta to his Tour de France and Giro d’Italia victories before turning his attention to the major championships, now ends with his recovery taking priority and no certainty over whether he will race again this year.