Tadej Pogacar, the Slovenian cyclist, has been sidelined from competition since suffering a fall during the Vuelta, a major cycling race, in late August. The accident resulted in fractures to his left collarbone and the seventh cervical vertebra in his neck. As a result, he missed the remainder of the season, including the World Championships in late September and the European Championships in Slovenia, which he ultimately chose not to compete in, even though he attended as a spectator. Pogacar had originally been selected for the European Championships but decided against competing due to his current poor form. He explained that he had only recently begun riding again and felt he was not yet ready to return to competition. He noted that a few weeks ago, he would have wanted to participate, but now he acknowledges his performance level is not where it needs to be. Pierre Rolland, a French cyclist and former teammate, told L'Equipe that Pogacar might return to racing as early as the 2027 season, potentially competing in the Tour Down Under in January. However, Pogacar has not given a specific timeline for his return, stating that his recovery is still in progress. In addition to focusing on his recovery, Pogacar recently attended the retirement ceremony of Luka Mezgec, a former cyclist and mentor who had a significant influence on his career. Pogacar expressed admiration for Mezgec's achievements and the role he played in Pogacar's development. Meanwhile, Pogacar's partner, Urska Zigart, who was also injured in a fall during the Faun Tour Femmes, is recovering alongside him.