Tadej Pogacar's season over - UAE leader won't return until next season as World Championships ruled out after surgery
CyclingSaturday, 05 September 2026 at 12:18
Tadej Pogacar will officially not race again in the 2026 season following his crash at the Vuelta a Espana. Undergoing surgery earlier this week on a broken collarbone, Pogacar also sustained a concussion and fractured C7 vertebrae in a brutal fall that ended his red jersey bid.
Enjoying a phenomenal season before his crash, the UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider found himself in the red jersey as he looked to add a Vuelta general classification win to his Tour de France title in July. He also took victories in Milano Sanremo and Tour of Flanders among other dominant performances.
La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Ciro Scognamiglio reported that Pogacar will not race until next year and that his 2026 season is over. The journalist reports that a team communication is imminent confirming the news.
Soon after, UAE confirmed the news in a statement. Pogacar said: “Of course, this isn’t the way I wanted my season to finish. Right now, the most important thing is to recover properly and give my body the time it needs.
"It has been a season with many special moments and I’m proud of what we achieved together. Now I’ll focus on getting healthy, supporting the guys from home, and coming back next year ready for what’s ahead.”
It had been speculated that Pogacar could attempt to defend his World Championships rainbow jersey on September 27th, while before the crash he had also lined up goals such as the European Championships and Il Lombardia to round out his season.
Info @Gazzetta_it - About @TamauPogi, sources confirmed us that the scenario is season 2026 over for the world champ, only missing official communication by the team @cycling_podcast
— Ciro Scognamiglio (@cirogazzetta) September 5, 2026
Pogacar's injuries after crash
But with a complicated list of injuries, Pogacar was released from hospital mid-week still sporting bandages and with his arm in a sling. The Montreal championships are now just over three weeks away, making a participation particularly unlikely.
In an interview this week, Slovenian team doctor Kristof Knap eased speculation of an impending fitness race for Pogacar - pointing to the physical ramifications of rushing his recovery.
“It isn’t realistic, however much we might want it. Ultimately, Tadej is only human, and he has to live with this body for the rest of his life," Knap said in an interview with RTV SLO.
Full rehabilitation now the focus
"The most important thing is that he rehabilitates fully, without rushing the process," Knap added.
Pogacar crashed on last Saturday's stage 8 with about 32 kilometers left to go. Riding in a calm bunch, Pogacar appeared to hit a stone, leading to him losing control and falling. In the immediate aftermath, Pogacar got back on his feet and intended to continue before his injuries became apparent and he was hospitalised.
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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- Can't see nothing wrong with that
leedorney05-09-2026 - It’s totally obvious it’s not about collecting money, why are people even discussing that? At its base it’s extremely simple, any group of people need guidelines to function or each will do as he thinks best. All groups have rights and responsibility towards others, everything is taking place in the public sphere, neither the riders/organisers/UCI own the infrastructure so they have to respect and use it according to the given guidelines. Let’s start with a really easy one, litter. What happens if you let riders throw everything away (without e.g. electronic tags to find it back) along a 200km stretch of road?Jumpyjohn05-09-2026
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- Huh? You come out with that just after the Maeve Plouffe incident???? No better than most places. You also obviously didn’t get why I used examples of things you’re not going to be able to tackle but CAN happen anyway. Terrorists also get past police often enough when they’re determined.Jumpyjohn05-09-2026
- As was posted here several times in the past, bigger budget and ressources allotted to security by making teams and riders co-responsible for it (if they don’t agree, want to participate they know the potential consequences). Teams and riders have enough budget/staff/friends/fans to provide for what is needed to man (informed persons, not people guessing the last rider must have passed) more crossings to prevent drivers doing as they think best. Nobody has a problem paying for back up cars, service cars, driving around vips, making publicity for spectators. Apart from the Tour and some really big races, marshalling is almost totally dependent on (usually unpaid) volunteers of dubious experience. Not surprising considering the responsibility and risk and complete lack or recognition or reward. If you would « outsource » recruitement to smart outfits and accept to reward people nicely somehow, I’m sure you would be inundated with requests like for the Olympics. Get in touch with the public, schools, cycling clubs, associations, charities and make it fun. Don’t force e.g. some old lady without a phone to stand for hours in a yellow warning vest but get a bunch of people to have fun/picnic and occupy the space, then reward them with a meal/vip access/autograph signings/ meetings with riders, whatever, brainstorm. Designate and design crossings as spectator hot spots for them to gather instead of everywhere else along the course. They’re there to see the race, they can be useful and enjoy it simultaneously, and use their parked cars to help barricade access. Have a catering unit ahead in the caravan that distributes free sandwiches and drinks to crossings only (a free beer (use a sponsor if needed) will move mountains). It doesn’t take much more than willingness and organisation but you have to be smart enough to sell it. The UCI didn’t manage to « sell » compulsory helmets to riders in the 90s, the dumb f…ks went on strike to resist and suddenly 15y later it passed like a parcel in the post, today NOBODY even discusses the issue anymore, on the contrary, the helmet has become cult/design/hi-tech/paraphernalia/crucial (also to performance). People are stubbornly stuck in following bad old logic (and ever more, the wrong new proposals to move away from past inefficiency). In the world of cycling, apart from maybe for ASO (and even for them, the workload is huge), race organisation is not easy money.Jumpyjohn05-09-2026
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- 4 stage wins after 13 stages. Really a terrible performance
Rafionain-Glas04-09-2026 - So what is the point of the fines if it is not worth collect the money? It doesn't effect the rider. The teams pay the fine. The points deduction thing is more effective but also a bit harsh on a rider and team that has worked hard to get those points.1stpastthepost04-09-2026
- In the UK the police doa great rolling road closure. Thats not a set route though like a tt. In this case in germany its obvious that road junction was missed and not down to teenagers playing up or drunk driving as both cars/van stopped right away1stpastthepost04-09-2026
- Of course the uci can't account for all eventualties. So jj you'r saying sh.t happens and that's it?1stpastthepost04-09-2026
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