Huge tornado rips through southern France as Vuelta cyclists flee giant hailstorm

The third stage of the Vuelta a España was called off due to a severe hailstorm in the French Pyrenees. As the peloton approached the summit of the Col de Mont-Louis, large hailstones began pummeling the riders and the road surface. Mats Wenzel from Kern Pharma and Lorenzo Fortunato from XDS Astana were leading by 25 seconds at that point, with race leader Tadej Pogacar indicating to the group to dismount.

Upon seeing this, Pogacar signaled the other riders to halt their pursuit. The disheveled cyclists sought refuge inside a hotel, leaving spectators disappointed as hail coated the road. The stage did not resume, disappointing fans who had witnessed a warm and sunny start to the mountainous finish. Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar maintained his overall lead of nine seconds over Belgium's Wout van Aert and Britain's Matt Brennan.

Earlier, a five-man breakaway group had remained ahead before the storm struck. Despite the abrupt end, Pogacar will have another opportunity to secure stage victory when the race resumes on Tuesday. The fourth stage features three first-category climbs and takes the race to Andorra la Vella.