An extreme hailstorm in the French Pyrenees led to the abandonment of stage three of the Vuelta a Espana with fewer than 20 kilometers of the day remaining.The race leaders were approaching the final climb to the ski station of Font-Romeu when large hailstorms forced some riders, including Tadej Pogačar, to pull to the side of the road and seek shelter in a hotel, the IGESA Village Club in Mont-Louis. Others sought refuge under the balcony of Le Clos Cerdan, a further kilometer down the valley.Shortly beforehand, five-time Tour de France winner Pogačar was seen telling the remainder of the peloton on the road to stop racing.Around 10 minutes after the stage was neutralised, race organisers announced its abandonment with the group scattered across the mountain, directions difficult to follow, and on-course vehicles struggling for visibility.Tadej Pogačar, in the leader’s red jersey, signals for the peloton to slow down as the hail falls (Grab: TNT/Eurosport)“For the security of the riders, stage three has been cancelled due to hail and severe weather,” the race organisers announced. “There will be no winner and no podium ceremony.”
No final times were awarded for the stage and the standings remaining identical to the previous day, so Pogačar continues to lead the race by nine seconds from Wout van Aert.
