UAE Team Emirates director Mauro Gianetti said it was "too early to speak about the Tour de France" after star rider Tadej Pogacar suffered a broken wrist during Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege cycling classic.
Pogacar, 22, has been in irrepressible form this season, the Slovenian registering 12 victories including significant wins in the Paris-Nice, Tour of Flanders, Vuelta a Andalucia, Amstel Gold Race, and La Fleche Wallonne.
The two-time Tour de France champion was once again favourite to add to his haul in Belgium on Sunday, but a crash 85km into the race saw him withdraw, and the team doctor confirmed Pogacar had been taken to a hospital in Genk to undergo scans and surgery.
"[Pogacar] suffered fractures to the left scaphoid and lunate bones," Dr Adrian Rotunno, UAE Team Emirates medical director, said. "The scaphoid will require surgery which he will undergo this afternoon with a specialist hand surgeon here in Genk."
A few hours later, Dr Rotunno added: "The surgery on [Pogacar]'s scaphoid was successful and he will travel home tomorrow for recovery and rehabilitation."
Pogacar, the world's top-ranked road cyclist, is not scheduled to race again until the Tour de France at the start of July, although his wrist injury will raise concerns about his preparation.
"We are crossing our fingers that he will recuperate quickly," Gianetti said. "It's too early to speak about the Tour de France."
Pogacar's crash denied fans the chance of a rare head-to-head with Remco Evenepoel, who won the race to retain his title.
World champion Evenepoel broke away with 30km to go when Tom Pidcock refused an offer to work together. Evenepoel shrugged, powered away and finished the 258km race in 6hrs 15min 49sec with Pidcock second 1min 06sec behind, outsprinting Santiago Sanchez in third.
The Soudal-Quick Step rider won the race last year in a similar manner, and on both occasions was enthusiastically cheered home by the crowds.
"It's magnificent to win here again, above all in this beautiful jersey," said the 23-year-old Belgian, pointing at his world champion's rainbow striped jersey.
"You never like to hear that horrible sound, see another rider fall," said Evenepoel of Pogacar's crash.
"The road was slippery, I send him my best wishes."
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELuv%20Ranjan%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Shraddha%20Kapoor%2C%20Anubhav%20Singh%20Bassi%20and%20Dimple%20Kapadia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
