Pogacar quits La Vuelta after crash in Xeraco

Tadej Pogacar abandoned La Vuelta on Saturday after a crash 33 kilometres from the finish of stage eight in Xeraco, in the Valencian Community. The Slovenian race leader was left in pain with an injury to his left shoulder and could not get back on his bike. He received treatment, tried to continue, then climbed into an ambulance.

The crash happened as the peloton headed towards the Puerto de Barx. Television footage appeared to show a stone on the road shoulder after Pogacar collided with other riders. Several cyclists went down, but Pogacar was the only one unable to carry on.

He had worn the red jersey, given to the overall leader, since the opening time trial in Monaco. Pogacar had built a lead of almost four minutes over Enric Mas after his win in Andorra.

Enric Mas of Movistar now leads the race by more than a minute from Austria's Felix Gall. Slovenia's Primoz Roglic is a minute and a half behind Mas.

Bryan Coquard of France won the sprint in Xeraco, ahead of Denmark's Mads Pedersen and Belgium's Jordi Meeus. Another crash followed in the fight for the stage win, tangling riders and bikes.

La Vuelta continues on Sunday with a 187-kilometre ninth stage from Villajoyosa to the Alto de Aitana.

Topics: Sport

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com