Pogacar ends 2026 season early after Vuelta crash

Sept 5 : Five-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar has ended his season early to focus on recovery after last weekend's crash during Vuelta a Espana left him with injuries that required surgery, his team UAE Team Emirates-XRG said on Saturday.Slovenian Pogacar, who was leading the Vuelta when the crash forced him to abandon, has also extended his contract with his team until 2032.“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," the 27-year-old said in a statement.Pogacar, who joined UAE Team Emirates-XRG in 2019, has won six Grand Tour titles, including the Giro d'Italia in 2024. "From the beginning, this team has felt like home for me... there is still a lot I want to achieve in this spo