Tadej Pogačar Could Lose a Key Tour de France Helper to a Freak Bus Crash

Tadej Pogačar could be without a key Tour de France helper after a freak bus crash ended the Giro d’Italia for Jhonatan Narváez.

Narváez had been one of the standout riders of this year’s race before the Ecuadorian collided with a team bus while riding back to the paddock after stage 18, forcing him out of the Italian grand tour.

The bizarre incident could cost the on-form Narváez a spot on Pogačar’s Tour squad as the defending champion prepares for a rematch with arch-rival Jonas Vingegaard.

UAE Emirates-XRG sports director Manuele Mori revealed the accident occurred after stage 18, when Narváez lost his concentration while checking his stats.

“On Thursday after the stage in Pieve di Soligo, Jhonatan was a little distracted and was checking his power meter while returning to the team buses,” Mori told BiciSport. “A bus in front of him braked. He didn’t notice and there was an impact. At first it didn’t seem serious, just the kind of neck and back spasms that can happen after a crash.”

Narváez, 29, enjoyed a strong Giro after stepping into the void following the stage 1 crash that took out several UAE Team Emirates-XRG leaders.

He won three stages and entered the battle for the cyclamino jersey before abandoning in stage 19.

The impacts proved worse than initially thought. Narváez started stage 19 but abandoned shortly afterward.

“He suffered from the start,” Mori said. “I think partly because of the heat and the effort, and he started bleeding from the nose. He felt dizzy and was probably also a bit frightened, so together with the race doctors we decided to stop him.”

Pogačar’s Tour de France roster with one spot still open

The crash was another setback in a difficult season for Narváez, who had already missed much of the spring after suffering multiple thoracic vertebra fractures at the Santos Tour Down Under in January.

The Giro marked his return after nearly four months away from racing.

His strong Giro ride immediately put him in the picture to fill what looks like the final spot on UAE’s powerful Tour de France roster to support Pogačar and his push for a record-tying fifth yellow jersey.

UAE’s preliminary Tour squad already looks largely settled, with Pogačar leading a team that includes Isaac del Toro, Tim Wellens, Marc Soler, Brandon McNulty, Adam Yates, and Florian Vermeersch — leaving one spot still up for grabs.

Narváez was a key rider on UAE’s Tour-winning squad last year, but the early season crash saw him fall out of contention to make the competitive selection.

After his hot Giro, he was back on the list, but now the question is whether his injuries have torpedoed his chances at the worst possible moment.

“I don’t know yet,” Mori said when asked about Narváez’s Tour prospects. “Matxin [sporting director Joxean Fernández] and the coaching staff will decide later. But after some rest, he will certainly be ready to get back in the game.”

Narváez’s crash also comes as the momentum appears to be swinging back toward Visma-Lease a Bike.

Vingegaard capped a dominant Giro d’Italia with four stage victories and the overall title, and Visma leaves Italy looking every bit as deep and dangerous as the team that twice beat Pogačar at the Tour.