“Rushing recovery is counterproductive” - Should Tadej Pogacar force his return to race the World Championships?
CyclingMonday, 31 August 2026 at 12:30
Tadej Pogacar faces a real race against time to make the Montreal World Championships on September 27th. The Slovenian crashed out of La Vuelta a España and, with four weeks to go until the Worlds, doubts over his recovery are inevitable.
Alberto Contador and Samuel Sánchez assessed the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader’s chances on Eurosport. Both agreed that the collarbone injury should not, in principle, be Pogacar’s main issue, while the condition of his cervical area will ultimately determine whether he can return to racing in time.
Contador explained that surgery on the collarbone allows a relatively quick comeback. “With a collarbone, if they operate tonight, you’re practically on the turbo in two days and by day five you’re back on the road,” said the Spanish legend, though he immediately shifted focus to the injury that raises greater concern.
“The problem is that concussion, which complicates operating a bit. You have to wait,” Alberto Contador explained. Samuel Sánchez, meanwhile, stressed that everything will depend on the exact extent of the cervical injury and how it evolves over the coming weeks.
The Asturian former pro detailed that many questions remain. “In the end, with the vertebral fracture, we’ll have to see its scope, how complicated it is, whether it can be fixed, whether it can’t be fixed, whether that would allow him to train,” he said of the reigning world champion’s situation.
Tadej Pogacar was forced to abandon La Vuelta a España
Collarbone injury not a worry for Pogacar
Sánchez believes the collarbone should not prevent Pogacar from preparing for a possible start in Montreal if all goes well. “I think the collarbone issue wouldn’t be an obstacle for him. If the operation goes well—and it usually does with cyclists—there’s no reason it should go badly,” he said.
However, he made clear the big unknown is the neck. “The cervical issue is the only thing that leaves us a bit up in the air about whether he will or won’t be at the Worlds,” added Samuel Sánchez, without venturing a prediction on whether Pogacar can defend his rainbow jersey on September 27th.
The debate also raised the option of Pogacar extending his season to Il Lombardia if he cannot make the Worlds. Contador was categorical and felt there would be no sense in rushing the recovery just to return to competition.
Pogacar and the Worlds risk
“I don’t think so. If the Worlds are out of play, rushing it—we know that pushing recovery often backfires,” Contador stated. For the former rider, with an athlete of Pogacar’s calibre, a full recovery must take priority over risking it for a single race.
“When you have the best rider in the world—probably the best in history—on your team, there’s no need to rush back just to make Lombardia. He can win it later, and if he doesn’t, so be it, but let him recover well,” he concluded.
That said, Alberto Contador does recognise that the Montreal Worlds is a special motivation for Tadej Pogacar and could be the key target in his recovery. “The Worlds, that’s where I think the big challenge lies and the major motivation Tadej surely has in his head right now,” he finished.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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- Crazy take. Tadej was drinking from his bottle so had one of his hands off the handlebar. Really down to bad luck rather than loss of focus.Pogboom31-08-2026
- Nonsense. Just bad luck, like Jonas at the Tourderekthomas31-08-2026
- Stef Clement is an analyst? With what he said, really? Don't insult my intelligence!!! Does he know that crashes are on numerous occasions inevitable and unavoidable? No he doesn't. If he did, he wouldn't be spitting "#$%&/()=* nonsense around. PS: Did Jonas, Van Aert, Remco, Roglič...etc etc. crash so many times because they thought they were the best? Answer this one.PogiSloFans31-08-2026
- I just can't understand these BS headlines , known as yellow journalism, that uses sensationalism, exaggeration, and eye-catching headlines: "Complications with severe concussion as Mauro Gianetti refuses to offer comeback timeline." Just reading the headline you would think that Pogi has a severe concussion and a high-grade traumatic brain injury that just got complicated. Of course when you read the article Gianetti is actually saying: "The concussion complicates the surgery timeline." That's it. Can someone tell why this is necessary on a serious cycling site? What's the point?PogiSloFans31-08-2026
- There was so much hype about MVDP in this race and zero about Tom Pidcock, despite Tom’s superb record in MTB championships.RP4831-08-2026
- OK, I will answer. My parents got the American citizenship yeras after living in the US, they had a dual citizenship. When I was born, I was automatically a US citizen, but when we moved back to Slovenia, I was also automatically a Slovenian citizen because my parents were Slovenian. They just had to register me and that was it. That was the Slovenian law in those days. If it changed in upcoming years, that I don't know.PogiSloFans31-08-2026
- Pogi not being able to win????? ....ha ha ha ha ha ha .... If he didn't crash out, he would've won by at least 10 min. I know that hurts you, but I forgive you, cause you're a "poor minded" narrow Yankee.PogiSloFans31-08-2026
- Some think Pogi is arrogant and selfish... because he's winning too much. Two years ago some "fans" were spitting and throwing urine at MvDP in cyclocross just because he was winning too much. Isn't that sad Mr. MauMau alias Mause?PogiSloFans31-08-2026
- So quick step proved they are a bunch of sore losers. Inspecting the bike was unprofessional. Especially after UAE left it in their control. If therebike was illegal they never would have left it with quick stepcaptmike31-08-2026
- This sensation of a return needs to go out the window, yes he's a 1 in a million person who does what he can do BUT I feel this is a indicator to himself to be happy with what he's got already this year and his life.. he'd be a fool to race again this year!
leedorney31-08-2026
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