Five-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar expresses gratitude for his life after suffering severe injuries in a crash during the Vuelta a Espana in August. The 28-year-old Slovenian cyclist sustained three fractured vertebrae and required surgery on a broken collarbone, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

In an interview with The Athletic, Pogacar revealed:

• He initially knew about the C7 fracture, but subsequent scans uncovered two additional fractures in the T1 and T2 vertebrae.
• He remarked, "I'm just happy to be alive actually, or just to be standing," highlighting the severity of his injuries.

Post-accident, Pogacar faced challenges due to a concussion, which led to dizziness, nausea, and difficulties with coordination. He described a particularly tough period where he needed assistance from his team doctor just to shower, stating, "I was getting dizzy as soon as I stood or when I put my head down."

Pogacar aimed to complete his Grand Tour collection by winning the Vuelta, but his injuries prevented him from defending his rainbow jersey at the World Championships in Montreal last month.

While the initial weeks of recovery were mentally taxing, he found solace in rehabilitation and indoor training, saying, "When I started to get on the home trainer, to go to physio every day, then I started to feel better."

Now, Pogacar feels close to normal but remains cautious about potential crashes. His team, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, has decided he won't race again until 2027, emphasizing the importance of his full recovery. Pogacar plans to return next year, adopting a more cautious approach to racing. He concluded, "It's a bit scary, to be honest, to think about it."