Tadej Pogacar has taken to Instagram to share a photo from his hospital bed following a severe crash that forced him to withdraw from the Vuelta a España on Saturday. The five-time Tour de France winner, who was leading the race, greeted fans with an upbeat post featuring the Bee Gees’ classic, "Stayin’ Alive."

In the photo, Pogacar appears in good spirits despite wearing a neck brace and sporting a plaster near his right eyebrow and on his right hand. He is seen making his signature gesture of raising his index and little fingers, conveying a sense of resilience as he awaits surgery on his collarbone.

The crash occurred during the eighth stage of the Vuelta, just over 30km from the finish line in Xeraco, a stage that was initially anticipated to be straightforward. At the time of his fall, the UAE Team Emirates rider was leading by a substantial 3 minutes 50 seconds, making him the favorite for overall victory.

According to the medical report from his team, Pogacar sustained:

• A concussion
• A displaced left clavicle fracture
• A stable C7 cervical fracture
• Multiple abrasions

Fortunately, there were "no other major injuries and no neurological fallout," as confirmed by his team. However, it remains uncertain how long Pogacar will be sidelined, casting doubt on his participation in the upcoming world title defense in Canada later this month.

The race continues on Sunday with a 187.5km mountainous stage from Villajoyosa to a summit finish at Alto de Aitana, followed by a rest day on Monday.