Pogacar's entourage not ruling out Montreal Worlds yet despite Vuelta crash

UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed on Saturday evening that Pogačar had suffered a concussion, a broken collarbone and a stable C7 cervical fracture when he crashed 32km from the end of stage 8.

Pogačar was initially taken to hospital in nearby Gandia, and he was later transferred to Barcelona, where he is due to undergo surgery on his collarbone on Monday. UAE sports manager surgery Matxín Joxean Fernández explained that the surgery has been delayed as a precaution due to Pogačar’s concussion.

“I know they’re going to wait 24 hours because of the head injury,” Matxín told media including Domestique in Villajoyosa on Sunday morning. “The standard protocol is obviously to wait 24 hours. He’ll have the operation tomorrow – that’s all I can tell you. The team doctor will have to provide the rest of the details.”

Matxín was reluctant to be drawn on whether Pogačar’s astonishing 2026 season is now over due to the injuries sustained in his crash. 

The World Championships road race is exactly four weeks away, and prior to his Vuelta crash, Pogačar had been scheduled to seek a third consecutive rainbow jersey in Montreal on September 27. 

He was also set to defending his European title on home roads in Slovenia on October 4 before completing his season by vying for a sixth straight Il Lombardia triumph on October 10.

“We need to analyse the situation, wait for the operation to take place, and once it has, find out how it went and draw conclusions from it all,” Matxín said. “After the operation, we need to assess how he is getting on with his rehabilitation and recovery, and we’ll only draw conclusions then.”

Pogačar’s agent Alex Carera was a touch more bullish than Matxín about a possible return before the end of the season. Speaking to BiciSport, Carera dismissed early reports that suggested Pogačar had already written off the remainder of the season.

“I’ve read talk of his season being over but honestly, nobody can say that in this moment, not even the medical staff treating Tadej,” Carera said. “Pogi will be brought to Barcelona, and he will be operated on there. We’ll only know the recovery time after the operation and thus whether he’ll be able to make it for the Worlds or not.”

Carera added that he had not yet spoken with Pogačar, but he said there was “confidence and optimism” within UAE that his season might not yet be over.

“If there is encouraging news from Pogi’s operation in Barcelona, his presence at the Worlds, European Championships or Il Lombardia might not be compromised,” Carera said. “Let’s cross our fingers and wait for the next updates.”