Vuelta a España stage three neutralised and then abandoned after hailstorm

On Monday, stage three of the Vuelta a España was abruptly neutralised and subsequently abandoned due to a devastating hailstorm that made it impossible to continue racing on the final climb. Race leader Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) instructed the peloton to slow down as they approached the summit of the Col de Mont-Louis, just 15km from the finish.

Riders were seen seeking shelter in a hotel on the roadside above the mountain, while team staff distributed protective wet weather gear. Although there was initially optimism that the stage could be resumed, it was ultimately cancelled shortly thereafter. No results were recorded for today's stage, and the general classification remained unchanged from the previous day, with Pogačar maintaining his lead at the top.

The day started off warm and sunny, but as the riders entered the final stretch of the stage and crossed the Pyrenees, the weather suddenly deteriorated. Initially, it was just wet and unpleasant, but it quickly escalated into a torrential hailstorm that was too dangerous for the riders to continue. TV footage showed the athletes taking cover at the roadside, and a race announcer urged them to seek shelter if necessary.

Shortly after, it was announced that the stage had been abandoned. The 174km route from Gruissan to Font Romeu was expected to showcase Pogačar's overall lead, as his UAE Team Emirates-XRG team had been dominating the race up to that point. Although several riders, including Ethan Hayter, Mats Wenzel, and Olivier Le Gac, attempted to break away, they were all caught before they could earn any mountains points at the top of the steep climb.