Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
A broken wrist that requires surgery is a career-threatening injury for a pro cyclist.

The last time I can recall it happening to a really top pro was in 1977, when Belgian super star Freddy Maertens, resplendent in world champions jersey and just having won the Vuelta a Vuelta a España, (so more like Evenepoel than Pogačar), crashed. He'd already won the Tour of Sardinia, Semaine-Catalane and Paris-Nice stage races, plus the Omloop Het Volk classic. And then he won a record 13 (yes, thirteen) stages of the Vuelta a España* plus the points and overall. (* The race started in April back then.)

Four days after the Vuelta a España finished the Giro started, and Maertens won 7 of the first 11 stages. Then disaster struck on stage 12 when he tangled with Rik Van Lindon, the resulting crash led to 3 hours on the operating table. Maertens made a return to Pro cycling, but he was never the same again and struggled with his wrist for the rest of his career

Sadly, I can't see Pogačar returning to his early April form in time for the Tour de France. The wrist takes a hammering in cycling, so there has to be a question mark over whether we will see the Pogačar we know and love again. I'm hoping for the sport that we do, but it's far from guaranteed.
Thanks Marco. Such an Oracle on all cycling matters! Though one would hope given advances in modern medicine and Pogacar's youth, his recovery should be relatively speedy but no doubt will affect preparation for the tour.