Slovenian cycling star Tadej Pogačar will miss the European road cycling championships in Ljubljana following a crash at the Vuelta a España, despite earlier optimism from surgical staff and the rider’s desire to compete on home roads.
The decision brings an official close to a stellar season for the five-time Tour de France champion, who crashed during the eighth stage of the Spanish grand tour. Team management held firm on shutting down his campaign for the remainder of the year despite widespread rumors of a rapid recovery.
Crash Injuries and the Surgery Debate
Pogačar’s autumn plans derailed on the Spanish asphalt when a heavy fall 31 kilometers before the eighth stage finish forced him out of the race. Medical evaluations in Barcelona revealed a complex fracture of his left collarbone alongside a stable fracture of the seventh cervical vertebra, accompanied by numerous scrapes and bruises. Surgeons operated quickly on his collarbone before he returned home to Monaco for rehabilitation.
While surgeon Xavier Mira cleared the two-time world champion to defend his continental title, and the rider even returned to outdoor training on the roads around Nice after initial indoor sessions, his squad drew a hard line. Team leadership insisted that health must take precedence over an early return to the peloton.
Slovenian Roster Takes Shape Without Its Headliner
With Pogačar sidelined until next season, the Cycling Federation of Slovenia published its final lineup for the continental championships running from October 2 to October 7. Primož Roglič steps in as the primary leader for the elite men’s road race following a strong showing at the world championships in Montreal. Alongside Roglič, young phenom Jakob Omrzel skips the Canadian trip to focus entirely on preparations in Slovenia.
The host nation takes advantage of its full host quotas, entering 42 athletes across all categories.
- Primož Roglič
- Jakob Omrzel
- Jan Tratnik
- Matej Mohorič
- Matevž Govekar
- Gal Glivar
- Luka Mezgec
- Domen Novak
Roglič and Tratnik will also contest the individual time trial. On the women’s side, Urška Žigart misses the event due to injury despite holding excellent form, leaving Nika Bobnar, Špela Kern, and Tjaša Sušnik to represent the elite women’s squad.
Course Logistics and Local Traffic Restrictions
Events center around Šenčur and Ljubljana, starting with the under-23 women’s road race on Friday morning and concluding with time trials on Wednesday. Spectators planning to catch the action on the climbs toward Možjanca and Štefanja Gora face strict access limits.
Cycling up the 2.1-kilometer climb featuring a 10.2 percent gradient is restricted to specific windows between races: daily until 8:00 a.m., and during designated midday breaks on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.