Pogacar drops out of Vuelta after crash – Lipowitz abandons Tour

Impact on the general classification

Already in the morning, reports of a serious crash involving Pogacar had alarmed the cycling world. Other riders were also caught up in mass crashes, according to these reports. Organizers and teams initially did not comment in detail on the injuries.

The loss of the most prominent rider throws a spotlight on the risks of the major stage races. Just recently there had been serious crashes at the Tour de France – among others, Jonas Vingegaard is said to have crashed heavily, according to ZDF-Morgenmagazin. German hope Florian Lipowitz also had to end the Tour de France prematurely after a crash, as reports from ZDF indicate.

Crash series in cycling

In German cycling, Lipowitz's abandonment is causing disappointment. The youngster was considered one of the greatest German talents in the general classification and had hoped for a high placing at the Tour. No public details have been given so far about the exact circumstances of his crash and the nature of his injury.

Following Pogacar's exit, the Vuelta is now without its top favorite. Riders such as Enric Mas and Felix Gall are thus moving more into focus. Both have been named in the Spanish media as possible beneficiaries of the withdrawal. According to the available reports, there is no confirmed information about their current position in the general classification.

Looking ahead to the 2029 Tour

In parallel with the ongoing Vuelta, the cycling world's attention is already turning to upcoming major events. According to information from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, German organizers have submitted a bid for the Grand Départ of the 2029 Tour de France in Germany. An official confirmation from the UCI is still pending.

Pogacar's crash is part of a series of accidents in the current season that are once again raising questions about safety on the stages of the major tours. Associations and teams had already discussed measures such as adjusted course routes and speed limits on descents following earlier incidents. No concrete consequences from the incident in Xeraco have been announced so far.

Overall, the incident illustrates how quickly the sporting situation in a three-week stage race can change due to a crash. Pogacar, who was one of the defining figures of this season both in the Classics and in the major tours, will only be able to return to racing in future events.