Tadej Pogacar says he is "just happy to be alive" after suffering three fractured vertebrae in a crash during the Vuelta a Espana in August. The five-time Tour de France champion, 28, was ruled out for the season and required surgery on a broken collarbone. Further scans revealed fractures in his neck vertebrae C7, T1, and T2.
Pogacar also suffered a concussion that left him struggling with dizziness, nausea and poor coordination, requiring help from his team doctor to shower. He was unable to defend his rainbow jersey at the World Championships in Montreal last month. The first weeks of recovery were difficult, with Pogacar admitting he was "mentally not OK" and "not a fun person to be around." His mood improved once he resumed rehabilitation and indoor training on a home trainer.
He can now do basically everything normal but must be careful not to crash or do heavy lifting. UAE Team Emirates-XRG said the decision not to race again until 2027 will allow him to return to full health without a timeline. Pogacar is aiming to return next year but with a more cautious mindset, acknowledging he was lucky to walk away from such a serious crash.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing