Enric Mas leads the general classification after stage ten ahead of Primož Roglič and Austria’s Felix Gall – and with several major mountain stages still to come, further changes at the top appear highly likely.
Collarbone and cervical vertebra fractures after heavy crash
Until stage eight, everything pointed towards a commanding overall victory for Pogačar. The five-time Tour de France winner had already taken three stage victories, had worn the red jersey since the opening day and held a lead of 3:50 over Enric Mas after stage seven. Primož Roglič was 4:50 behind, with Felix Gall at 5:01.
Then the race changed in an instant. Around 32 kilometres from the finish of stage eight in Xeraco, Pogačar lost control of his bike at high speed and crashed head-first onto the road. Footage appeared to show him hitting an object on the road, while team-mate Pavel Sivakov later said that Pogačar had also been handling his bidon at the time. The Slovenian initially tried to get back on his bike, but was forced to abandon and was taken away by ambulance.
The diagnosis was serious: Pogačar suffered a concussion, a displaced fracture of his left collarbone and a stable fracture of the seventh cervical vertebra, as well as numerous abrasions. Neurological damage was ruled out and, according to his team, the vertebral fracture poses no threat to the spinal cord, while the broken collarbone was successfully operated on in Barcelona on Monday.
The Slovenian is expected to remain in hospital under observation for a few more days before beginning his rehabilitation. There is currently no timetable for his return, which also leaves his participation in the Road World Championships at the end of September in doubt.
How the battle for the red jersey developed
The sporting outcome of stage eight was almost overshadowed by Pogačar’s crash. Bryan Coquard won the sprint ahead of Mads Pedersen and Jordi Meeus, securing the first Grand Tour stage victory of his career. The consequences for the general classification, however, were enormous: Enric Mas inherited the red jersey, Roglič was suddenly only one minute behind and Gall 1:11 back. A Vuelta that had been firmly under Pogačar’s control was transformed into a wide-open race.
Just one day later, the summit finish at Alto de Aitana provided the first direct showdown between the new overall contenders. Felix Gall and his team dictated the pace for long stretches before Mas attacked around three kilometres from the finish and eventually beat Oscar Onley to the stage win. Roglič lost twelve seconds, while Gall finished fourth at 18 seconds. After nine stages, Mas therefore led Roglič by 1:18 and Gall by 1:39.
After the first rest day, stage ten proved considerably calmer for the general classification riders. Bastien Tronchon won the finale ahead of Magnus Cort and Thibau Nys to claim his first Grand Tour stage victory. The main contenders finished together, meaning there were no changes at the top. Mas retained the red jersey with the same 1:18 advantage over Roglič and 1:39 over Gall.
Gall suddenly in contention for overall victory
Pogačar’s withdrawal has fundamentally changed Felix Gall’s position in the race. The Austrian had already been one of the strongest riders behind the dominant Slovenian, but he now genuinely belongs to the small group still capable of fighting for overall victory.
After ten stages, Gall sits third in the general classification. He trails Mas by 1:39 and is only 21 seconds behind Roglič. The 28-year-old should have further opportunities to gain time on the demanding mountain stages still to come.
Gall may, however, need to build a cushion before the 32.1-kilometre individual time trial on stage 18. Roglič in particular is considerably stronger against the clock, making it crucial for Gall to exploit his advantages in the high mountains.
General classification after stage 10
01. Enric Mas (Movistar) – 32:41:44
02. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +1:18
03. Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) – +1:39
04. Oscar Onley (Netcompany Ineos) – +2:20
05. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) – +3:26
06. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) – +3:55
07. Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +4:09
08. Harold Tejada (XDS Astana) – +4:39
09. Gregor Mühlberger (Decathlon CMA CGM) – +7:33
10. Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain Victorious) – +8:05
