Vuelta a España abandons stage in France after golf ball-sized hail forces riders to shelter
Stage three of the Vuelta a España was abandoned on Monday after a severe hailstorm and torrential rain struck the peloton 15 kilometers before the finish in Font-Romeu, France. Organizers neutralized the race and later announced the stage would have no winner or podium ceremony, citing safety concerns as golf ball-sized hail pounded riders .
Television footage showed riders dismounting and seeking shelter in nearby buildings, including a café and a hotel in Mont-Louis, as the storm intensified during the final 25 kilometers of the 174-kilometer route from Gruissan to Font-Romeu . Race leader Tadej Pogačar, winner of the opening time trial in Monaco and third in stage two, was among those who halted the peloton, according to Dutch broadcaster NOS .
The decision to abandon the stage was communicated via the race’s official X account, which stated, “Due to the weather conditions, it was impossible to continue. For safety reasons, the stage is canceled. There will be no winner and no podium ceremony” . Pogačar retains the overall lead as the race prepares for stage four, a mountainous 174-kilometer route starting and finishing in Andorra, featuring three first-category climbs .
The Vuelta a España, now in its 81st edition, will enter Spanish territory on its fifth day. The race is scheduled to conclude on Sept. 13 in Granada . The Hotel IGESA Village Club Mont-Louis, where riders took refuge, received widespread praise online for its role as a shelter during the storm .
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