Third stage of Spanish Vuelta stopped because of hail and no winner declared

The third stage of the Spanish Vuelta was abruptly halted on Monday due to hail and hazardous weather conditions, resulting in no winner being declared. Riders sought shelter in nearby establishments as they approached the 15-kilometer mark of the grueling 174-kilometer route, which was intended to conclude in the French Pyrenees.

Race officials deemed the conditions too dangerous, prompting the suspension of the stage and the absence of a podium ceremony. The peloton experienced heavy rain and ice on the road near the end of the stage. Despite these challenges, race leader Tadej Pogačar, representing UAE Team Emirates, maintained his lead, which stood at nine seconds over Wout van Aert and one second ahead of Matthew Brennan.

The penultimate 105-kilometer stage towards Andorra will feature three significant climbs, presenting an opportunity for the top contenders to assert their dominance before the Vuelta concludes in Granada on September 13.