Overview
- The race leader crashed about 31–32 kilometres from the Xeraco finish when his front wheel appeared to strike a stone, forcing him off his bike and into an ambulance.
- Pogačar tried to continue on the road but pain from a wound to his left shoulder stopped him and he was taken to Hospital de València for further evaluation.
- His UAE team stopped immediately to tend to him, and medical staff advised precautions that led to his decision to abandon the Vuelta.
- Enric Mas inherits the red jersey and leads the general classification by one minute over Primož Roglič, changing the race dynamic after Pogačar’s exit.
- Pogačar had won three stages and been the clear overall favorite, and his withdrawal raises concerns about his form and availability for the World Championships while echoing a 2023 crash that later affected his season.