Tadej Pogačar has shared a reassuring update from his hospital bed in Barcelona, posting a photograph to social media set to the Bee Gees’ track “Stayin’ Alive” following his crash and subsequent withdrawal from La Vuelta.
The Slovenian cycling star was forced to abandon the Spanish Grand Tour during the eighth stage after encountering a hazard on the roadway roughly 33 kilometers (about 20.5 miles) before the finish in Xeraco. According to race reports, Pogačar initially attempted to resume riding before the severity of his pain forced him to stop and accept an ambulance evacuation.
Fortunately, secondary screenings ruled out any additional severe trauma or neurological complications.
Following the accident, Pogačar was transferred to a hospital in Barcelona under the care of Dr. Mir.
An Instagram Update at the Hospital
To quell growing concern among his three million Instagram followers, Pogačar published a story on Sunday showing him lying in a hospital bed wearing a cervical collar, an eye dressing, and a bandage on his arm. Despite the visible injuries, he raised his right hand in a rock-style gesture to project optimism, accompanied by the audio track of the Bee Gees hit.
The incident marks a sudden and painful halt to a dominant campaign. Entering the eighth stage, Pogačar held the red leader’s jersey after claiming three stage victories and built a lead of 3 minutes and 50 seconds over his closest general classification rival, Enric Mas.
Impact on the General Classification and Future Schedule
Following Pogačar’s withdrawal, Enric Mas assumed the race lead. Out of respect for the fallen Slovenian champion, Mas reportedly declined to pull on the red leader’s jersey during the ensuing podium presentation.
The crash represents Pogačar’s first abandonment in a Grand Tour, denying him an immediate chance to complete the career triple crown of Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta victories. Questions now surround his availability for the remainder of the 2026 season, which includes the UCI Road World Championships in Canada in late September, the European Championships in his native Slovenia, and the Giro di Lombardia in Italy this October.
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