Tadej Pogacar surgery on "Tuesday or Wednesday" - Complications with severe concussion as Mauro Gianetti refuses to offer comeback timeline
CyclingMonday, 31 August 2026 at 11:57
Tadej Pogacar will undergo surgery for his broken collarbone on either Tuesday or Wednesday, with UAE Team Emirates boss Mauro Gianetti confirming that the effects of a "severe concussion" complicating his intial timeline to go under the knife.
Pogacar crashed out of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana at 66 kilometers per hour, hitting a stone and then falling to the ground in a race-ending instant that saw him break his collarbone, C7 vertebrae, suffer multiple facial, hands and body lacerations as well as pick up a concussion.
With the abandonment goes his lead of La Vuelta and potentially the rest of his season goals, which included the World Championships, a home European Championships in Slovenia as well as Il Lombardia. Speculation has risen over whether he will be able to return this side of the off-season in time for any of those goals.
Offering the first major inisght into Pogacar's days since Saturday's crash, Gianetti indicated that Pogacar is in a good mental space. But with the fracture of his clavicle shifting slightly and a concussion involved, he has not yet underwent surgery.
Concussion complicates surgery timeline
The main reason for that is a concussion, with an operation involving anaesthesia, it would affect the nervous system and thus potentially cause the cocnussion to heal slower as a result, meaning that the medical advice was to delay the surgery.
“Given the circumstances, Tadej is doing well,” Gianetti told RMC Sport on Sunday evening.
“The shock was severe, but today his mood is fine. Despite everything. If all goes well, he will go under the knife on Tuesday or Wednesday. It will be a fairly major operation, because the fracture has shifted.”
Tadej Pogacar reaparece tras su caída en La Vuelta
Pogacar's next few weeks and months
Pogacar is at Hospital Universitari Dexeus in Barcelona and will be operated on by the renowned traumatologist Dr. Xavier Mir, who has notably worked with motor GP riders after crashes.
Looking ahead, Gianetti refused to speculate on what's next for Pogacar as he insisted that only results of surgery would define his route back to racing, and not an emotional motivation.
“It is still far too early to say anything useful about that. We are not discussing it within the team, because this is not the time to make a decision. First, we have to wait for the final test results for the concussion and see how the surgery on Tuesday or Wednesday goes.
"After that, we will have a clearer picture and can assess whether he can still return this season. We are going to handle this calmly and not make choices based on emotion.”
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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- 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 - Mou you do go on my friend. Much ado about nothing. As for Lefevere I'm sure you would like him too if you met him in a social situation. One away from the attention grabbing headlines in the cycling press.Cyclingsbestfan31-08-2026
- Sorry, replied to the wrong person, as most will deduct.Mistermaumau31-08-2026
- Did you miss the other articles??? Mas or Primoz will probably win but the Vuelta story is still dominated by…. and you haven’t said a thing. And depending on final results, a lot will be said with constant reminders of who was absent.Mistermaumau31-08-2026
- Sweety, i heard my name, are you looking for me? You do need to slow down and read what people write. Not sure why you have it in your head that I dislike Pog. See ya cowboy.
Andrew31-08-2026 - “You will see a couple sitting in the lobby, and anyone who isn’t into cycling would never suspect that the guy in the hoodie is the best cyclist in the world,” This is why I love this sport. No show boating like you would see in F1, football, tennis, golf, etc. On top of this, pro cyclists are some of the fittest athletes in the world and train much more than those aforementioned sports (and get paid much less).Pogboom31-08-2026
- You did a great ride Jarno. The reason why we saw a great race was the fact that it was slower. UAE did not drive up the pace like the would have if Pogacar had been there. The peleton rode sensibly knowing what was coming in that last climb to the finish. It worked out well and we saw a great race. Had Pogacar been there I doubt you would have got that seventh place. With Pogacar out and injured the dynamic of stage racing has changed. It is astonishing the influence Pogacar has had on racing.Cyclingsbestfan31-08-2026
- Why is it arrogant to just try because you personally want to? Especially when you’ve been close to achieving it in the past? I think it’s great he has a go even if his schedule doesn’t allow him. Next up Bol will be considered arrogant because she switched from hurdling to the 800?Mistermaumau31-08-2026
- Apparently, it really was because he had one hand off for drinking, I didn’t even know. Lightning strikes twice.Mistermaumau31-08-2026
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