Six-time grand tour champion and Vuelta a Espana leader Tadej Pogacar has abandoned the race after a nasty crash on stage eight.The Slovenian was the overwhelming favourite to win the Vuelta, the only grand tour he has yet to win, and won three stages in its opening week. He led the race by nearly four minutes from Movistar’s Enric Mas before his shock crash and abandon with just over 30km to go on stage eight.The race leader appeared to swerve suddenly while travelling in the midst of the peloton along a wide road and crashed hard, with riders falling around and behind him.He sustained a nasty wound to his left shoulder and the left side of his face, and was immediately attended to by medical staff. The Slovenian got up unassisted and appeared ready to get back on his bike before shaking his head and sitting down again, before he was helped into a waiting ambulance by staff.This is the first time Pogacar has abandoned a grand tour, and the first race he has withdrawn from since breaking his wrist at Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2023. More follows