Pogačar Withdraws from Vuelta; Coquard Wins Stage 8

Pogačar crashed with about 32–33 kilometers remaining on stage eight of the Vuelta a España and was forced to abandon, leaving him with injuries to his left shoulder and face. He had led the general classification by roughly 3:50 before the crash, and Enric Mas took the red jersey as the GC battle reshaped for the remaining two weeks. Medics treated him roadside and he was evacuated by ambulance, with no attempt to continue. Stage eight was won by Bryan Coquard, a development that further altered the stage result alongside Pogacar’s withdrawal. The crash marks a dramatic end to Pogačar’s bid for a rare career Grand Tour triple, with Mas now the leader ahead of the Madrid finish. Coverage across outlets underscored Pogacar’s withdrawal as the pivotal moment of this Vuelta stage.