Tadej Pogačar underwent successful surgery to treat a scaphoid fracture in his left wrist at a hospital in Genk on Sunday. UAE Team Emirates confirmed that the Slovenian will travel home to continue his recovery on Monday.
"The surgery on Tadej Pogačar's scaphoid was successful, and he will travel home tomorrow for recovery and rehabilitation," Dr. Adrian Rotunno, Medical Director, UAE Team Emirates, confirmed.
Pogačar was transported to a hospital to undergo immediate surgery to correct a fractured wrist sustained in a crash during Liège-Bastogne-Liège. His team confirmed in a medical update that he had sustained two fractures to his left scaphoid and lunate bones.
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However, only the scaphoid fracture required surgery, which was performed by specialist hand surgeon Joris Duerinckx in Genk.
UAE Team Emirates later confirmed that Pogačar's recovery time would be approximately six weeks, though he will be able to ride the indoor trainer "in the coming days".
Pogačar was the overwhelming favourite to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège and was aiming to complete the Ardennes Classics triple after winning Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne earlier in the week.
However, he was forced to abandon the race after he was caught up in a crash with Mikkel Honoré (EF Education-EasyPost) on a descent at roughly 85km into the 258km race.
He was forced to climb into the team's support vehicle before being taken to the hospital for medical assessment and treatment. UAE Team Emirates later confirmed Pogačar's injuries and treatment in a series of medical updates following the event.
After the crash, team manager Mauro Gianetti remained cautious about Pogačar's recovery and how his injuries might affect his season from here on, saying it is too early to make any predictions. Pogačar’s next goal after a period of rest is to try and win the Tour de France in July.
“It's too soon to say. We’ll probably have more information after the surgery and we'll see how it goes. As it’s multiple bones to fix, it’s a more complicated operation. So we’re crossing our fingers it will all be ok, and he’ll be able to recover very fast.”
On Monday, Duerinckx, who carried out Pogačar's surgery, said that the type of surgery he carried out on Pogačar was a standard one for him, noting that he didn't feel any extra pressure because his patient was a famous sportsperson.
"Did I feel extra pressure because I had to operate on Pogačar? No, but at the emergency room you noticed from the entourage – a team doctor and people from the cycling team – that this is a world-class rider," he told Het Nieuwsblad. "But once you're in the operating room, the procedure is the same for me as any other.
"It happens, but it's not just professional athletes. The fracture suffered by Pogačar, for example, is more common in people who fall by bicycle or from a height. In a reflex, you try to catch the fall by putting your hand.
"You have to give a body time to recover. The scaphoid bone has little blood flow and therefore heals more slowly. But we also know that recovery is faster in fit, healthy people. And Pogačar is someone who meets that requirement."
