"I don't see how he can be competitive" - Tadej Pogacar warned to let go of World Championships injury return hopes after collarbone surgery
CyclingWednesday, 02 September 2026 at 10:00
Tadej Pogacar has been told to let go of any hope of competing at the World Championships later this month. The UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider suffered a heavy crash last week at the Vuelta a Espana and underwent surgery on Tuesday.
Leading the Vuelta at the moment of his crash, Pogacar was taken to hospital with a broken collarbone, broken vertebrae and a concussion. His collarbone surgery means that he faces a period of recovery before he can get back on the bike - meaning the clock is ticking if he was to return at the World Championships.
One cycling legend believes that Pogacar should forget about a frantic rehabilitation and let the World Championships deadline come and go. With the crash not jeopardising his career, he should recover adequately and could still feature this season.
"I believe this is Tadej Pogacar's first really serious crash," Legendary cyclist Cyrille Guimard told Cyclism'Actu. "He had another one at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, with a broken wrist that kept him out of competition for a while, but this is his first serious fall."
Tadej Pogacar
Pogacar suffers serious crash
"It has to be said that he's one of those riders who rarely crashes. Since turning professional, there have never been any truly major consequences.
"This time it's a bit more serious, but it doesn't jeopardise his career, or even perhaps the end or very end of his season, and that's a good thing. It's worth noting that a number of his rivals have also had crashes, sometimes much more serious ones."
While Remco Evenepoel and Egan Bernal were mentioned as riders whose crashes saw their performances negatively affected for some time, Guimard sees Pogacar's injuries as more of a warning to exercise caution.
"I think we'll see him back at his best because he doesn't have any injuries that could hinder him. A broken collarbone—I'm almost tempted to say that a rider who finishes their career today practically has two collarbones and a scaphoid bone!
"He might just be a little more careful. You know, when you've had crashes, you have to be careful, but you can't avoid them all. So I don't think that, unlike Evenepoel or Egan Bernal, for example, this crash will have an impact on his performance level."
World Championships return unlikely
Assessing the World Championships, he doesn't see how Pogacar can arrive at Montreal in condition to challenge on a challenging course. With a break of almost two weeks required, he believes Pogacar will be better served by focusing on October's Il Lombardia.
He said: "The World Championships are in three and a half weeks. I don't see how he can be competitive in Canada on a course that is, moreover, demanding. That's not something that usually bothers him, but he's not going to get back on his bike in the coming week.
"So a break of twelve or fifteen days from all physical activity, or with very little activity, doesn't allow him to be in good physical condition for the World Championships. Now, we might see him again around the Tour of Lombardy. I don't mind seeing him again at the end of the season, but not at the World Championships."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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