Tadej Pogacar on potential UAE Tour return, recovering from horror crash and 'special talent' Isaac del Toro

Résumé détaillé

Tadej Pogacar remains in recovery mode following his horror crash at the Vuelta a Espana that brought his latest season of dominance to a painful finale.The UAE Team Emirates-XRG…

Tadej Pogacar remains in recovery mode following his horror crash at the Vuelta a Espana that brought his latest season of dominance to a painful finale.

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider's body took a battering in a crash on Stage 8 in Valencia at the end of August that left him needing surgery on a broken collarbone as well as suffering three fractured vertebrae and a concussion.

Pogacar has since admitted that he was “just happy to be alive” after the incident that forced him to miss out on defending his world and European titles and, two-and-a-half months later, the 28-year-old is taking no risks with his rehabilitation.

“I'm feeling better, thank you,” he said when asked by The National about his recovery. “It was a difficult moment, especially because everything happened so suddenly and the season ended in a way I really didn't expect. The first weeks were not easy, but I've had great support from the medical team, my family and everyone around me.

“The most important thing has been to be patient and follow the recovery process properly. With injuries like these, you can't just look at how you feel on one particular day and decide everything is fine. You have to respect the advice of the doctors and give your body the time it needs.

“Of course, I miss racing, but I'm trying to take the positives from having a little more time at home. Now I'm getting back to my normal routine and doing what I love.”

Pogacar was racing at La Vuelta for only the second time after finishing third overall in what was his Grand Tour debut in 2019. The Slovenian was looking to tick off the last of cycling's 'Big Three', having already won both the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia.

Pogacar had been in top form going into the race, having just secured a record-equalling fifth Tour crown in Paris, but it was only the second time he had attempted a Grand Tour double in the same season.

Back in 2024, Pogacar triumphed in both the Giro and the Tour when there was a 34-day gap between celebrating…

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