"I hit my hip a little bit and my shoulder" - Tadej Pogacar wary of crash injuries as 2025 Tour de France heads to Hautacam

With a massive mountain top stage 12 finish awaiting the riders of the 2025 Tour de France this Thursday afternoon, the last thing Tadej Pogacar needed was an awkward night's sleep. Dealing with injuries from a late crash on stage 11 though, the Slovenian's preparation for such a big day was far from ideal.

Speaking to the assembled media at the startline ahead of stage 12, Pogacar updated fans on his condition, and admitted there is a slight concern about how his body will react to the high mountains, given the injuries sustained.

"I’m okay. Nothing too bad. Just my whole left arm is open. It was like burned off skin. And I hit my hip a little bit and my shoulder. But luckily, I was back on the bike quite fast," the world champion told TNT Sports. "Today is another day. It’s not the first time I have crashed and continued a race. We will see how the legs are. I think my legs are more important than my arms. I hope the legs are turning well. We will see."

"I have a super strong team around me that support me till the end. They give all for me, so I’m grateful I can rely on them even if I have a hard day," he adds in conclusion. "But I hope not."

Notably, Pogacar also made sure to pay tribute to Samuele Privitera, the teenage prospect who was tragically killed yesterday following a crash in a race in Italy. "It's really sad to lose another young talent. It’s devastating. It’s a dangerous sport – one of the most in the world, I think. The risks we are taking sometimes are too far. I’m really, really sad for all his family. May he rest in peace. He deserves to not be bothered now. It’s a sad loss."