Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar shares hospital photo after crash as Mas holds lead

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XERACO, Spain (AP) — Five-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar posted a photo from the hospital wearing a neck brace and with bandages on his hand and face on Sunday, a day after crashing out of the Spanish Vuelta.

The Instagram post came accompanied by the Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive.”

Pogačar was expected to undergo surgery after being sent hurdling head-over-handlebars in a frightening crash that forced him to pull out of the Vuelta. He suffered a concussion and broke two bones after he appeared to lose control when a stone came rolling across the road.

The Slovenian from UAE Team Emirates had a big lead and was heavily favored to win the title to complete a hat trick of cycling’s three Grand Tours.

This was Pogačar’s 10th Grand Tour and the first he has ever abandoned. He had never finished lower than third place.

Enric Mas of Movistar, who inherited the lead from Pogacar, won the mountainous ninth stage.

Mas edged Oscar Onley in a two-man sprint on the uphill finish to Alto de Aitana. Primoz Roglic crossed third, 12 seconds behind.

Mas extended his lead to 1 minute, 18 seconds ahead of Roglic and 1:39 ahead of Felix Gall.

It was Mas’ second career win at a Grand Tour after taking a Vuelta stage eight years ago.

The three-week Vuelta concludes in Granada on Sept. 13.

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