Pogacar abandons Vuelta a España after stage 8 crash

Tadej Pogačar, the race leader and five-time Tour de France champion, abandoned the Vuelta a España on Saturday after a heavy crash during the eighth stage, ending his bid to complete a career Grand Tour collection. The Slovenian, who held a commanding lead, fell with approximately 32 kilometers remaining on the flat route from Puçol to Xeraco near Valencia and was unable to continue. The crash occurred in the peloton as the pack approached the intermediate sprint and the day's only categorized climb, the Puerto de Barx. Television footage showed Pogačar, wearing the red leader's jersey, suddenly swerving and colliding with another rider before hitting the ground hard.