Two months after crashing out of the Vuelta a España, Slovenian cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar has revealed he suffered severe physical and psychological struggles, including previously undiagnosed spinal fractures, welt.de reported.
Severe Mental Toll Following the Crash
The 28-year-old rider opened up about his recovery in an interview with the sports portal The Athletic, detailing a dark period during the first fortnight after the incident. Pogačar admitted he felt completely depressed and struggled with basic daily tasks.
“In the first two weeks, mentally it was really not good for me. I was totally down. It was not fun to be around me,” Pogačar said in the interview. He noted that he felt completely numb and required help even to take a shower. “I couldn’t shower by myself. I would get dizzy as soon as I stood up or tipped my head down. I was just totally out of it, and it was so hard.”
Undiagnosed Spinal Fractures Discovered Weeks Later
Pogačar won his fifth Tour de France earlier in the summer before heading to the Vuelta a España, a Grand Tour he has yet to conquer. During the Spanish race, a heavy crash initially resulted in a diagnosis of a broken left collarbone and a concussion.
However, subsequent medical evaluations revealed the true severity of the accident. Two weeks prior to his statements, a computed tomography scan in Slovenia uncovered two additional broken vertebrae alongside his previously known C7 fracture, which affects the seventh cervical vertebra. “I am just happy to be alive, or to even be able to stand up,” the two-time world champion said, adding that reflecting on the injuries now feels frightening.
Safety Criticisms and Next Steps
While Pogačar reported that he is largely pain-free and maintains fitness through cycling, jogging, and swimming, he must still avoid heavy lifting. Alongside his recovery, the rider criticized current safety standards in professional cycling.
“These accidents are piling up,” Pogačar said, urging race organizers to eliminate dangerous road furniture and obstacles, particularly within the final stretch of races. He specifically called for the removal of poor road surfaces, late-course corners, potholes, speed bumps, and roundabouts in the final 500 meters.
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