Pogacar crashed in the middle of the peloton 33 kilometres from the stage finish in Xeraco. The Slovenian UAE Team Emirates rider was seen holding his left arm and being treated for injuries there, as well as having a bloody face.
Pogacar, who was looking to become the ninth male rider to ever win all three Grand Tours, attempted to get back on his bike but officially left the stage with his left arm in a sling as he entered an ambulance.
After winning the Tour de France in July, Pogacar was looking to finish a magical hat-trick by winning his first Vuelta.
Team Visma-Lease a Bike's Jonas Vingegaard completed the hat-trick in May by winning the Giro d'Italia in Pogacar's absence, by which he followed in the footsteps of Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali, Alberto Contador, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, Felice Gimondi, and Jacques Anquetil.
Pogacar, who'd never abandoned a tour through injury, led the Vuelta classification by nearly four minutes over Enric Mas (Movistar) and Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrote).
Pogacar, a six-time Grand Tour winner, entered his first Vuelta a Espana since 2019, when he finished third in the overall classification.
The Slovenian had his best year yet, with wins in the Tour de France, Tour de Romandie, Tour de Suisse, three monuments, and the Strade Bianche classic.