UAE boss pushes back on Paris-Roubaix fears after Pogacar’s serious Vuelta crash

Pogačar’s 2026 season came to a premature end after he crashed during the eighth stage of the Vuelta, suffering a displaced collarbone fracture and concussion while leading the race.

The world champion subsequently underwent surgery, with Gianetti revealing that the procedure was considerably more complicated than the team initially hoped.

“The accident was serious,” Gianetti told Rai programme RadioCorsa. “The displaced fracture of the collarbone required a very complex operation, in addition to the concussion.”

Once the extent of the injuries became clear, there was little prospect of Pogačar racing again this season.

That meant giving up not only his position at the Vuelta, but also a series of major late season targets, including the World Championships, European Championships and Il Lombardia.

“It was clear that he could no longer race this year,” Gianetti said. “But it was also right to give him a few days to process that decision, because he was leading the Vuelta and had the World Championships and European Championships in his mind, as well as Lombardia.”

Gianetti said Pogačar has now accepted the setback and turned his attention towards 2027.

“The disappointment of not being able to race is obviously huge, but this is part of sport,” he said. “He also knows the crash could have had even worse consequences. He will approach next season with great motivation.”

Pogačar’s crash inevitably revived questions over whether UAE might become more cautious about sending its biggest star to Paris-Roubaix, one of the few major races still missing from his palmarès.

But Gianetti rejected the idea that Roubaix should automatically be viewed as more dangerous than other races.

He argued that the circumstances of Pogačar’s Vuelta accident showed how severe crashes can happen almost anywhere, particularly when a tightly packed peloton is travelling at high speed.

“Roubaix may appear more dangerous than other races, but if you look at the worst crashes recently, they have not necessarily happened there,” Gianetti said.

“At races like the one where Tadej crashed, the speed is extremely high, the whole group is very close together and there are many riders, all at a very high level.”

In Gianetti’s view, those conditions can make a crash more destructive than a fall on the cobbles of northern France.

“High speed crashes can be more devastating than what might happen at Roubaix, where you may fall on the pavé at a lower speed,” he said.

“Of course, you do not go looking for danger. Roubaix is a difficult race. But we have seen that it is not the only place where you can crash.”

The Swiss general manager believes the priority should be managing fatigue and ensuring riders arrive at their biggest targets physically and mentally fresh.

“We will have to think carefully about the calendar, but you cannot build a programme around trying to avoid crashes,” he said. “The important thing is to arrive at races fresh so that riders can maintain maximum concentration.”

Gianetti also addressed Pogačar’s long term future after UAE secured the Slovenian on a contract running through 2032.

Talks over an extension had already been underway for several months before his Vuelta crash, with Pogačar keen to underline his commitment to the team that has built its entire Grand Tour project around him.

“He wants to race, work hard and enjoy himself,” Gianetti said. “He also wanted to send an important signal about the confidence he has in the team, which is the same confidence we have in him and his staff.”

For Gianetti, keeping the sport’s biggest star in the professional peloton for at least another six seasons is significant well beyond UAE.

“It is great news for the world of cycling to know that Pogačar will be a professional rider until at least 2032.”