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Tadej Pogacar abandons Vuelta a España after Stage 8 crash

The race leader pulled out of the Grand Tour event following a fall with 33 kilometers remaining in the stage.

Updated Aug 29, 2026 · 16:28 UTC2 reports

The short version

Overall leader Tadej Pogacar withdrew from the Vuelta a España after crashing during Stage 8.
The 27-year-old sustained injuries to his left shoulder and face, walking into an ambulance after being unable to continue.
Spain's Enric Mas assumed the general classification lead following Pogacar's departure.
The full extent of Pogacar's medical condition remains unconfirmed.

Tadej Pogacar crashed approximately 33 kilometers from the finish line during Stage 8 along a 171-kilometer route from Puçol to Xeraco, Spain.[BBC News · Associated Press]
Pogacar walked unaided to an ambulance after trying to rejoin the race, marking his first abandonment of a Grand Tour.[BBC News · Associated Press]
Prior to the stage, Pogacar held a overall lead of 3 minutes and 50 seconds over Enric Mas.[BBC News · Associated Press]
Enric Mas inherited the race leader's jersey, making him the first Spanish rider to lead the race since 2018.[Associated Press]
Bryan Coquard won Stage 8, followed by Mads Pedersen in second and Jordi Meeus in third.[Associated Press]

The full official diagnosis and extent of Pogacar's injuries have not yet been released following initial reports of facial cuts and shoulder pain.[BBC News · Associated Press]