Spain's Vuelta: Stage 3 abandoned after hailstorm

Severe weather brought the third stage of the Tour of Spain to an abrupt halt on Monday, as large hailstones battered the peloton in the Pyrenees.

The stage, which was heading towards the first mountain finish in Font Romeu, was disrupted by storm conditions and precipitation. Professional cyclists, soaked and freezing, sought refuge in roadside cafes as the conditions became untenable. Approximately ten kilometers from the finish, the road at an altitude of 1600 meters was covered in white hailstones.

At that point, Italian rider Lorenzo Fortunato and Luxembourg's Mats Wenzel were leading as escapees, just ahead of the main pack which included overall leader Tadej Pogačar. However, the race jury convened and ultimately decided to cancel the remainder of the stage, which included the final ascent to Font Romeu at 1941 meters.

No stage results were recorded, meaning Pogačar retains the red jersey he claimed after winning the opening time trial on Saturday. The Slovenian star, aiming to win his final missing Grand Tour title, had expressed his intention to control the race. While the tactical plan was proceeding smoothly, the stage abandonment cost him a likely stage victory.

The Vuelta will continue on Tuesday with the fourth stage, a 104.8 km route starting and finishing in Andorra la Vella. The race will largely traverse the microstate of Andorra, with only a brief return to France.

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We want to control the race for the jersey. The stage is good for me, but it will still be hard.