Vuelta stage three abandoned after hail in Pyrenees
The third stage of the Vuelta a Espana was called off on Monday due to severe hailstorms in the French Pyrenees with 15km remaining. Overall leader Tadej Pogacar and the field pulled off the course for rider safety, and organizers declared there would be no stage winner or podium ceremony.
The third stage of the Vuelta a Espana was abandoned on Monday due to severe hailstorms in the French Pyrenees, according to BBC Sport. The race was halted with 15km remaining on the 174km route from Gruissan to Font-Romeu. Organizers announced the stage would not resume and there would be no stage winner or podium ceremony.
A severe hailstorm struck as the leading group approached the Col de Mont-Louis. Overall race leader Tadej Pogacar indicated to the main field to pull off the course. Drenched riders took shelter in a nearby hotel as conditions deteriorated beyond safe racing parameters. Organizers said the stage was cancelled "for the security of the riders."
Weather on the flat approach to the mountainous finish had been warm and sunny, with a five-man breakaway group out in front before conditions changed abruptly in the high altitude terrain.
Pogacar maintains the overall race lead with 4 hours 58 minutes 40 seconds, per BBC Sport. Wout van Aert sits second, 9 seconds behind, and James Brennan is third, 10 seconds back. Pogacar won the opening stage time trial on Saturday. Matt Brennan (listed as James Brennan in the standings) sprinted to victory in the second stage on Sunday.
Tuesday's fourth stage is a 104.8km route that starts and finishes in the Andorran capital Andorra la Vella. Pogacar is pursuing his first Vuelta victory to complete his Grand Tour collection.
A Grand Tour stage was abandoned mid-race for the first time in recent memory due to extreme weather, with 15km left on a 174km route from Gruissan to Font-Romeu.
The abandoned stage leaves overall standings intact despite the disrupted race action. What to watch is whether the weather in the Pyrenees continues to disrupt the planned schedule on stage four and how the extended high-altitude competition affects the field's physical condition after the interruption.
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Single-source report. As published, only BBC Sport had reported this development. No independent outlet had corroborated it.
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