Tadej Pogačar’s bid to win his first La Vuelta title ended prematurely after he crashed during stage eight on Saturday.
The crash has opened up the fight for the red jersey.
The first week of La Vuelta delivered plenty of drama. Riders faced tough climbs, a dangerous hailstorm and intense battles for the general classification.
Pogačar had looked set to finish the week at the top of the standings. However, his crash brought his race to an unexpected end.
Pogačar ends triple Grand Tour title bid
The Slovenian has dominated much of the 2026 season. Wout van Aert beat him at Paris-Roubaix, but Pogačar has won most of the other major races on his schedule.
He won his fifth Tour de France title last month. Pogačar then entered La Vuelta with another major target.
He wanted to follow his great rival Jonas Vingegaard and complete the triple Grand Tour crown.
Pogačar started La Vuelta strongly. He won the opening individual time trial before adding two more stage victories.
Stage eight appeared to offer a chance for the sprinters. The route finished in Xeraco after more than 1,200 metres of climbing.
Sinuhé Fernandez of Burgos Burpellet BH attacked early. He built a lead of more than five minutes over the peloton.
Visma–Lease a Bike then increased the pace. The team worked to close the gap and bring the breakaway back.
Fernandez eventually returned to the peloton. However, several riders crashed before the climb up Puerto de Barx.
Pogačar was among them.
The Slovenian struggled to get back on his bike. Injuries to his left arm, shoulder and face left him unable to continue.
His teammates surrounded him and helped him to a nearby ambulance. The incident ended Pogačar’s La Vuelta campaign.
Bryan Coquard of Cofidis won the stage after surviving another crash-filled sprint. The victory gave him his first Grand Tour stage win.
Pogačar’s crash came after Vingegaard also suffered a major crash at the Tour de France. That incident forced Vingegaard out of the race with a broken collarbone.
World title defence in doubt
UAE Team Emirates XRG later confirmed the extent of Pogačar’s injuries.
The team said he suffered a concussion, a displaced left clavicle fracture and a stable C7 cervical fracture. He also suffered multiple abrasions.
Doctors found no other major injuries or neurological problems.
However, the injuries have raised questions about Pogačar’s world championship plans.
He is due to defend his world title in Canada in late September. His recovery will determine whether he can return in time.
Pogačar has remained positive despite the setback. He posted a selfie from his hospital bed the day after the crash.
His exit also changed the battle for the red jersey.
Enric Mas of Movistar moved into first place after Pogačar left the race. Mas initially chose not to wear the red jersey during the presentation.
“To be honest, I know this is sport and cycling, but Tadej [Pogačar] crashed, I didn’t win the red jersey, so I think to not put it on now is something to show respect to him,” Mas said after the stage.
Mas to defend red jersey
Mas entered the Vuelta in strong form. He climbed the general-classification standings before Pogačar’s crash moved him into first place.
He quickly showed that he could defend the lead.
Mas won the mountainous ninth stage after beating Netcompany INEOS rider Oscar Onley in the final duel.
“Now I understand Tadej [Pogačar] – the jersey really gives you wings!” Mas told reporters after the stage.
Mas now leads Primož Roglič by one minute and 18 seconds.
Roglič rides for Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe and is chasing a fifth Vuelta a España title.
Felix Gall of Decathlon CMA CGM Team also remains in the GC battle. Richard Carapaz of EF Education–EasyPost and Mattias Skjelmose of Lidl–Trek are also among the contenders.
Visma rider Sepp Kuss has also moved up the standings. The American has shown his strength alongside the main GC contenders.
Kuss won La Vuelta in 2023. He finished that race ahead of teammates Roglič and Vingegaard to create an all-Visma podium.
He also served as Roglič’s key domestique during their time together at Visma.
Van Aert has benefited from Pogačar’s departure in the points classification. His aggressive racing has helped him take control of the competition.
Onley leads the youth classification. Santiago Buitrago of Bahrain Victorious has moved ahead of Mas in the King of the Mountains competition.
Perfect leadout, emotional victories, and a dangerous hailstorm
The opening week produced plenty of drama beyond Pogačar’s crash.
A dangerous hailstorm forced officials to cancel stage three. Riders rushed into a hotel along the route to escape the weather.
Visma also celebrated another victory on stage five.
Matthew Brennan claimed his second stage win after a strong leadout from teammates Christophe Laporte and Van Aert.
Stage seven delivered another memorable moment.
Andreas Leknessund of Uno-X Mobility won an emotional stage. His teammate Tobias Halland Johannessen finished behind him.
The victory came on a difficult day for Norway, as the country mourned the death of King Harald V.
With Pogačar out of the race, the La Vuelta 2026 title battle is now wide open.
Mas holds the advantage, but Roglič and the other GC contenders remain close enough to challenge for the red jersey.
The race now enters its most important stages without its biggest pre-race favourite. The fight for La Roja could become one of the defining battles of the 2026 cycling season.
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