Tadej Pogačar Committed to Paris-Roubaix Despite Brutal Vuelta Crash
- Tadej Pogačar will maintain his long-term cycling goals, including targeting Paris-Roubaix, despite sustaining severe injuries during a crash on Stage 8 of the Vuelta a España, according to...
- “It was a serious crash,” Gianetti said, as reported by idlprocycling.com.
- Amid the setback, UAE Emirates-XRG secured Pogačar's long-term future by extending his contract through the end of 2032.
Tadej Pogačar will maintain his long-term cycling goals, including targeting Paris-Roubaix, despite sustaining severe injuries during a crash on Stage 8 of the Vuelta a España, according to UAE Emirates-XRG team management. The Slovenian rider was leading the Vuelta a España, having claimed three stage victories and wearing the red leader’s jersey before crashing out of the race, as reported by Velo. Team boss Mauro Gianetti addressed the severity of the incident during an appearance on Radio Corsa, confirming that Pogačar suffered a concussion alongside a displaced collarbone fracture and a cervical vertebra fracture.
“It was a serious crash,” Gianetti said, as reported by idlprocycling.com. “The displaced collarbone fracture required a very complex operation, in addition to the concussion. From there, it was clear that he would not be able to race again this year.” Despite the complexity of the surgery and the extended recovery timeline required for the spinal and shoulder injuries, Gianetti stated that the team expects Pogačar to complete a normal winter preparation period ahead of the 2027 campaign.
Contract Extension and 2027 Ambitions
Amid the setback, UAE Emirates-XRG secured Pogačar’s long-term future by extending his contract through the end of 2032. According to idlprocycling.com, the early end to his racing calendar has provided the rider with ample time to recover without immediate pressure.
“He will think about next season with great commitment,” Gianetti told Radio Corsa, adding that the contract extension signals the rider’s continued confidence in the team. “He wants to race, work hard and enjoy himself.” The team’s long-term planning leaves room for major objectives that Pogačar has yet to conquer, including returning to the Vuelta a España and challenging for victory at Paris-Roubaix.
Evaluating Paris-Roubaix Risk Factors
The crash on the Vuelta a España route has not altered the team’s willingness to start Pogačar in the Hell of the North. According to idlprocycling.com, Gianetti dismissed the notion that Paris-Roubaix carries uniquely higher risks than other events on the UCI WorldTour calendar, pointing instead to high-speed bunch riding as a more frequent source of severe trauma.
“The truth is that Roubaix may seem more risky than other races, but when you look at it, the worst crashes with the most serious consequences lately are not so much there,” Gianetti said, as reported by idlprocycling.com. “They happen in races and situations like the one where Tadej crashed, where the speed is extremely high and the whole peloton is packed very closely together.” Gianetti noted that while Pogačar generally avoids such incidents, an errant rock on the road during Stage 8 left the rider with no defense. By contrast, the lower speeds encountered on the pavé of Paris-Roubaix can sometimes mitigate the physical toll of a fall.
“Of course, you don’t go looking for crashes,” Gianetti explained to Radio Corsa. “Roubaix is a difficult race, but we’ve seen that it’s not the only place where you can fall. You have to try to arrive at the race fresh, so that riders have maximum concentration, because that is the most important thing.” With his concussion healed and rehabilitation for his vertebral and collarbone fractures underway, Pogačar is expected to turn his full attention toward winter training and his 2027 race calendar.