Madrid (AFP) - The Slovenian Tadej Pogacar underwent "successful" surgery this Monday for a fracture of the left clavicle caused by the fall that made him abandon the Vuelta a España, the UAE-Emirates team doctor announced.
First modification: 08/31/2026 - 22:03
The operation was carried out at the Dexeus University Hospital in Barcelona, two days after the cycling star withdrew from the competition he was comfortably leading.
"This afternoon, Tadej successfully underwent surgery on his left clavicle, after having received authorization to proceed with the intervention," wrote Dr. Adrian Rotunno, quoted in a statement from the training.
"It went well and he will remain hospitalized for a few days for postoperative monitoring," he added.
Pogacar, 27, had almost a four-minute lead in the overall standings of the Vuelta after just one week, in which he had won three stages.
However, in an eighth transition stage, he fell 32 kilometers from the finish line and set off alarm bells when he was seen with blood on his left eyebrow and left shoulder.
He tried to get back on the bike, but the pain prevented him from doing so and he was evacuated from the scene by ambulance.
The diagnosis reported on Saturday indicated that the cyclist suffered "a concussion, a displaced fracture of the left clavicle, a stable fracture of the C7 cervical vertebra and multiple abrasions."
That concussion was the reason the operation took place 48 hours after the accident.
Pogacar published a photograph on social media on Sunday in which he is seen in the hospital bed with a neck brace. He added the Bee Gees song "Stayin' alive" to his post.
"When he is ready, Tadej will return home to begin convalescence and re-education under the supervision of the team's medical staff. We will continue to monitor his progress closely throughout the recovery process," continued the UAE-Emirates doctor.
Dr. Rotunno's statement does not give information on the estimated time he will be out, but the possibility of him being able to defend his world champion title on September 27 in Canada seems to be ruled out.
© 2026 AFP
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