Pogacar open to UAE Tour return as recovery continues, The National reports

Tadej Pogacar would welcome a return to the UAE Tour but has not settled his programme for next season, he told The National in an interview published on November 12, as he continues recovering from injuries suffered at the Vuelta a Espana.

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider said the race mattered to him personally and ranked among his team's main targets each year. The National reports that he has won it three times, with his latest victory coming in 2025.

His interest does not amount to a confirmed race entry. The team said he would sit out the rest of 2026 and that a date for his return to competition had not been set.

According to The National, Pogacar crashed during Stage 8 of the Vuelta in Valencia in late August and underwent surgery for a broken collarbone. In a medical update published by the team, medical director Dr. Adrian Rotunno described an open clavicle fracture, a stable fracture of the C7 cervical vertebra and a concussion.

Rotunno said Pogacar was making good progress after surgery. Rehabilitation would involve a phased concussion recovery programme and continued neurological checks, with any increase in training dependent on his medical recovery and readiness.

Pogacar told The National he was feeling better but was trying to remain patient and follow his doctors' advice. Feeling well on a particular day was not enough to judge whether he had recovered, he said.

The interview also brought praise for teammate Isaac del Toro. “Isaac is a really special talent, but what I like most is his personality”, Pogacar said, crediting Del Toro's contribution to the team.

Del Toro won the 2026 UAE Tour. According to the race's website, he displaced Pogacar as its youngest champion, taking the title aged 22 years, two months and 26 days.

The National reported that Del Toro later won Stage 2 of the Tour de France, with Pogacar finishing second. Pogacar described that victory as one of his proudest moments of the race.

Pogacar went on to secure a record-equalling fifth Tour title in 2026, while Del Toro finished third overall, according to The National and the team's race report.