“I know he’ll come back even stronger” - From one Slovenian superstar to another, Olympic champion sends heartfelt message to Tadej Pogacar after Vuelta crash
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar has received a warm message of support from another one of Slovenia’s most dominant sporting figures as he begins his recovery from the serious crash that brought his all-conquering 2026 season to a premature end late last month.
Janja Garnbret, a two-time Olympic sport climbing champion and one of the outstanding athletes in her discipline, spoke about her compatriot after taking another victory in front of a home crowd in Koper.
The 27-year-old won Olympic gold at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 and has built a record-breaking career at the top of international climbing. News of Pogacar’s injuries hit particularly close to home. “I was really sorry that he had to leave the race,” Garnbret said in quotes collected by Siol. “Injuries in sport are never easy and I wouldn’t wish an injury like that on anyone. When I saw the news, it really affected me.”
Pogacar crashed heavily on Stage 8 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana, suffering a concussion, a stable C7 fracture and a broken left collarbone. “Cycling is dangerous and everyone accepts a certain amount of risk when they go into a race,” Garnbret continued. “But with Tadej, I know he’ll come back even stronger.”
Garnbret knows the frustration of an enforced break
Garnbret had her own season interrupted in 2023 when a toe injury kept her away from competition and forced changes to the way she trained. She and coach Roman Krajnik found alternative ways to work while the injury healed, an experience she still draws on when looking back at that period.
“When I injured my toe, I found different ways to train,” Garnbret said. “You learn something from periods like that and you can come out of them even stronger. I always say that everything happens for a reason, even though that may sound strange in a moment like that. My mother always tells me the same thing. I tried to take something good from every situation.”
Her message to Pogacar comes with the Slovenian now facing his first extended spell away from racing since the season-ending crash. “I wish him a speedy recovery and I’m convinced he’ll come back even stronger,” Garnbret added.
Pogacar held a dominant lead of La Vuelta's GC before his abandon
No racing deadline for Pogacar
UAE Team Emirates – XRG have already confirmed that Pogacar will not race again in 2026. His recovery now includes structured rehabilitation for both the fractured collarbone and stable C7 injury, alongside a graduated return protocol and continued neurological monitoring following the concussion.
The team have deliberately avoided setting a timetable for full training, with their medical staff stressing that there is no benefit in accelerating the process simply to meet a racing deadline. That rules Pogacar out of the remainder of this season, including the World Championships and Il Lombardia, while his focus shifts entirely towards rehabilitation and a return in 2027.
For Garnbret, who has already experienced the frustration of having elite competition suddenly taken away by injury, the expectation is clear: Pogacar’s setback need not define what comes next.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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