Tadej Pogacar, who was comfortably leading the overall standings at the Vuelta a España, was forced to abandon on Saturday after a heavy crash during Stage 8. The Slovenian suffered multiple fractures and could even see his season come to an early end, with the World Championships looming at the end of September.
Elsewhere in sports news, disappointment for Lens and Lyon in Ligue 1. Lens were beaten 2-1 by Strasbourg after surrendering the lead, while Lyon were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at home by Le Havre.
In the Premier League, more frustration for Liverpool. For the second time in two games, the Reds fought back from behind to rescue a draw. They had been hoping for more against Nottingham Forest, but settled for 2-2 on Saturday in new manager Andoni Iraola’s first game at Anfield. Tottenham, meanwhile, suffered again, a second straight defeat, this time a 2-0 loss to Newcastle.
In La Liga, Atlético Madrid moved temporarily to the top of the table after beating Sevilla 3-1.
In Serie A, Juventus were made to work hard for a 2-0 victory over Parma.
Finally, tennis takes centre stage, with the US Open getting underway this Sunday. An especially wide-open edition is in store, with both the men’s and women’s draws looking difficult to call.
