With 31 kilometers left during Stage 8 of the Vuelta a España, Tadej Pogacar hit a stone while taking a drink, lost control, and crashed heavily into the road. The devastating fall cost the red jersey leader a four-minute cushion and ended his 2026 season in an instant. Exactly 17 days after that harrowing crash, the five-time Tour de France winner, who claimed his record-tying fifth yellow jersey back in July 2026, offered fans a welcome recovery update.
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Taking to Instagram, Pogacar posted a reel showing his hospital stay and first steps back, with the caption: “Not quite how we planned to spend September… A big thank you to our teams, families, friends, and all of you for the amazing support. We are very grateful.”
After weeks away, Pogacar was back on the stationary bike. Although it was a small step, it felt like a milestone. The Slovenian looked happy as he slowly worked his way through his first indoor session, with his attention already moving toward the 2027 season.
Pogacar was smiling as he pedaled slowly on the stationary bike, his support team watching nearby as he logged structured training sessions on MyWhoosh.
“It’s just nice to be back on the bike,” Pogacar said in his latest update. “I’m taking it step by step at the moment and slowly building things back up.”
That careful approach comes after a crash that resulted in a broken collarbone, a stable C7 vertebra fracture, a concussion, cuts, and severe abrasions. The collarbone required surgery, which was successfully completed during his initial hospital stay.
The injuries forced Tadej Pogacar out of the Vuelta and prematurely ended his 2026 season, meaning he cannot defend his World Championship title in Montreal. The crash mirrors previous setbacks in his career, such as his 2023 Liège–Bastogne–Liège wrist fracture, where a sudden injury disrupted his racing calendar. For now, recovery has replaced racing on his calendar.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG principal Mauro Gianetti wants his return controlled, progressive, and free from unnecessary pressure. Pogacar echoed that approach, saying his training will slowly build toward next season. The stationary bike session gave fans their first real sign that Pogacar’s comeback was underway.
How Does Tadej Pogacar’s Absence Impact Slovenia at the World Championships?
Tadej Pogacar’s absence will change how Slovenia approaches the World Championships in Montreal. The team can no longer build its strategy around the double world champion, and teammate Domen Novak explained how different the plan will look without Slovenia’s biggest leader.
“Our tactics will change a lot,” Novak told Cyclingnews during the Vuelta a España.
That change has affected Novak’s role on the Slovenian team this year. The 31-year-old has raced every Worlds since 2020 but will now race Croatia instead.
“For us, it changes a lot, especially for me. What would I do there? We don’t have leaders, so it’s not like we need to pull all day.”
Without Pogacar, Novak no longer sees the same reason to control the race early. Instead, Slovenia can wait while other teams spend energy before looking for chances. Novak believes Roglič, Mohorič, Omrzel, and Tratnik should stay patient through the opening stages.
“We should wait all day and then start looking for chances,” the UAE rider said. That approach could leave Slovenia watching closely before making a move when riders start getting dropped.
Primož Roglič will lead the 8-man Slovenian squad, with Omrzel bringing fresh confidence after winning a Vuelta stage and finishing 7th overall in his debut Grand Tour. Novak also pointed to Tratnik, who came close to a medal after attacking late in Australia.
“Tratnik can be good; he was nearly third in Australia, but they caught him 50 metres from the finish,” Novak said.
Now, Slovenia enters Montreal without the rider who usually gives its race a clear shape. That leaves Roglič, Omrzel, Tratnik, and Mohorič with more room to choose their moments. Novak knows the early moves may not offer Slovenia the freedom they once had.
“Without Tadej, I wouldn’t have the same job anyway, and it’s going to be difficult to get in the breaks. I don’t think they’d let us do that much. So I’m going to Croatia.”