Tadej Pogačar’s recovery from his serious Vuelta a España crash has taken a more positive turn, with his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates keeping in regular contact with the injured Slovenian while he recuperates at home in Monaco.
Pogačar was forced to abandon the Vuelta after a heavy crash during the race, ending his hopes of completing the Grand Tour season. The incident left the five-time Tour de France winner with a complicated collarbone fracture, a stable C7 cervical fracture, facial injuries and a concussion. He subsequently underwent surgery in Barcelona before returning home to continue his rehabilitation.
Now, teammate Tim Wellens has provided an encouraging update after speaking with Pogačar over FaceTime.
Wellens, who is also based in Monaco, explained that he and other UAE teammates had contacted Pogačar several times while they were competing at the Tour of Britain. Wellens won the overall classification at the British stage race, while fellow UAE rider Nils Politt claimed the final stage.
Despite the seriousness of Pogačar’s injuries, Wellens said the reigning Tour champion appeared to be in good spirits.
“He still looked a bit like a boxer,” Wellens said, describing Pogačar’s appearance during their video calls. His eye remained heavily bruised and black and blue following the crash.
However, the physical appearance was not the main concern for his teammates. Wellens revealed that Pogačar was no longer experiencing pain and that the conversations were filled with laughter.
The Belgian rider said that being able to joke with Pogačar was a particularly positive sign because it showed that the cycling star was maintaining a strong mental outlook despite being forced to watch the remainder of the season from home.
Pogačar’s injury has brought an abrupt end to what had been another extraordinary season. Before the Vuelta setback, he had already added another Tour de France victory to his remarkable record, matching the all-time record of five victories in cycling’s most prestigious stage race. UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed his season would end early so that he could concentrate fully on recovery rather than attempting to return prematurely.
The decision means Pogačar will miss several major events later in 2026, including the European Championships, World Championships and Il Lombardia. His team has stressed that there is no need to rush his return, with rehabilitation now taking priority.
There was also positive news away from his injury. Pogačar recently extended his contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG through 2032, reaffirming his commitment to the team that he joined in 2019. He described the squad as feeling like home and said he still has plenty he wants to accomplish in professional cycling.
For now, the focus is simply on getting healthy.
The latest comments from Wellens suggest that although Pogačar may still bear visible signs of his crash, his recovery is progressing in the right direction. Most importantly for his teammates, he is no longer in pain, remains upbeat and is able to laugh with the people around him.
With UAE continuing to race without its superstar leader, the team’s riders are carrying on while keeping their injured teammate close to their thoughts. And for Pogačar, the message from his teammates is clear: take the time needed, recover properly and return when his body is ready.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG has already confirmed that the goal is to see Pogačar back racing in 2027, rather than risking his long-term health by rushing his comeback.
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