Tadej Pogacar crashed at high speed in the eleventh stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday. The Slovenian didn’t lose time, but he did suffer some abrasions. “I was afraid I would hit my head against the sidewalk.”
“I’m okay,” were Pogacar’s first words after the finish. “I’m a bit bruised, but we’ve had worse days.”
Pogacar was attacked on the final climb of the day by Visma-Lease a Bike riders Jonas Vingegaard and Matteo Jorgenson. The Slovenian didn’t flinch, but a little later touched Tobias Johannessen’s rear wheel and slid hard.
“He went from left to right across the road and I don’t think he saw me, so he completely cut me off,” Pogacar said. “I slid onto a sidewalk and was afraid I would hit my head against it. Fortunately, I have strong skin and that didn’t happen. I do have some abrasions.”
The other favorites decided not to take advantage of the crash and kept their legs still, allowing Pogacar to rejoin. “I want to thank them for that,” said the leader of UAE Team Emirates. “They could have gained time, but they waited for me. I have a lot of respect for that.”
Pogacar has to get back to work on Thursday, because then the first serious mountain stage of this Tour is on the program. The finish is on Pyrenean giant Hautacam. “That will be an important stage,” said Pogacar. “Normally you are not at your best the day after a crash, but I will do my best.”