Did a Rock Cause Tadej Pogačar to Crash?

The Vuelta a España is still reeling after Tadej Pogačar crashed out of the race late in Saturday’s stage 8.

Video replays of the live broadcast suggest a stone or rock on the edge of the roadway could have caused the world No. 1 to go down.

That is still subject to confirmation: UAE Emirates-XRG officials said they did not know exactly what caused the crash and team officials have not yet released any official reaction from the Slovenian.

“In the first moment he wanted to continue, but there was shoulder pain. It was a bad moment and it was obvious that he could not continue in the race,” Joxean Fernández Matxín said. “He went directly to ambulance and now he’s with the doctor.”

Pogačar was positioned near the front of the peloton on the left side of the road as the bunch sped toward the day’s third-category summit.

Tucked in behind UAE teammate as well as some riders from Visma-Lease a Bike, Pogačar can be seen crashing heavily onto the tarmac.

He first was shunted to the right and into another rider, then appeared to be thrown forward and sharply downwards. He was left with a wound to his head, visible scratches on his helmet and a bloodied shoulder.

An official medical report revealed Pogačar had suffered an acromioclavicular sprain or fracture, as well as head trauma plus a laceration above his left eyebrow.

Peloton perspective from Onley, Warbasse

Oscar Onley (Netcompany-Ineos) was also embroiled in the same crash as Pogacar. He spoke about the accident in an interview with La Vuelta.

“I came down and crashed,” the Briton said. “I was really lucky actually. Hopefully Tadej is okay because we were going really fast and it’s quite scary. I managed to come off pretty well, so yeah, all good.”

Onley is another of the GC competitors in the race. He started the day sixth overall and moved up one place as a result of Pogačar’s misfortune.

He was asked about the cause of the accident but couldn’t shed much light on that.

“I have no idea,” he answered. “We were sitting behind UAE and Visma and then suddenly there are bodies everywhere. There was braking, and then trying to stay upright.

“It was actually really chaotic today, I think. When it’s been such an easy day, everyone’s maybe a little bit sleeping. I think that’s kind of the case in the neutral [too].”

American pro Larry Warbasse gave his own angle on things.

“It was super-fast run into the town and there was a bunch of bollards in the road,” he said. “Everyone is going left and right, and then, boom! There was a big crash on the left.

“We heard Pogačar went down and everyone slowed down in the bunch. Everyone was waiting to hear. Then you hear he’s not moving and then, a minute or two later, you hear he is out of the race.”

‘There was a heavy feeling in the bunch’

Things are suddenly a lot tighter at the top at the Vuelta. Enric Mas (Movistar) started the day second overall, almost four minutes back, but is now wearing the race leader’s jersey for the first time in his career.

Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is one minute back while Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) is at 1:11.

Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike), Onley and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) are between 2:15 and 2:22 behind.

“I think it’s going to be quite a different race now,” Onley said. “It’s going to be quite a lot more open. Obviously, my goals don’t change and the people I’m racing against don’t change either. So, for me, nothing really changes.

“But maybe for stage wins, for break races and stuff, they get a bit more opportunity now.”

Sunday’s stage is one of the toughest of the race. There’s 4952 vertical meters to contend with and while that will introduce its own danger with multiple descents, Onley believes flatter stages such as Saturday’s have their own issues.

“In the final, everyone’s fresh because it’s been such an easy day. Everyone’s keen for a proper sprint finish, I guess,” he said.

“Obviously all crashes are unnecessary, but it just seemed like … there’s no real point to stress today.”

The race rolls on but the organisers, the media and the fans will likely miss Pogačar’s presence.

Warbasse seems to suggest an element of regret within the peloton too.

“Everyone was a bit sad. There was a heavy feeling in the bunch,” he said. “Now the race is open, but everyone felt bad, that’s not how you want him out of the race.”