{
  "id": 3067641,
  "title": "Tadej Pogacar pulls over peloton as torrential hailstorm forces Vuelta a Espana stage to be abandoned",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/tadej-pogacar-pulls-over-peloton-as-torrential-hailstorm-forces",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T16:31:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cycling/2026/08/24/tadej-pogacar-pulls-over-peloton-as-torrential-hailstorm-forces-vuelta-a-espana-stage-to-be-abandoned/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A torrential hailstorm forced the Vuelta a Espana's Stage 3 to be abandoned with 15 kilometers remaining on Monday in the French Pyrenees. Race leader Tadej Pogacar, representing UAE Team Emirates-XRG, saw the peloton seeking shelter off-road as large hailstones battered the riders. Organizers deemed it unsafe for continued cycling and canceled the stage, with no winner or podium ceremony awarded. Mats Wenzel of Equipo Kern Pharma held on to the lead, leaving Pogacar nine seconds clear of teammate Wout van Aert at the top of the general classification standings.",
  "summary": "There were extraordinary scenes in the Vuelta a Espana on Monday when Stage 3 had to be abandoned with 15km to go due to a torrential hailstorm in the French Pyrenees. The 166.7km route from Guissan to Font Romeu contained the first summit finish but as the peloton scaled the Col de Mont-Louis, the skies darkened and conditions quickly deteriorated. Soon the peloton were being hammered by huge…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Vuelta third stage abandoned after hailstorm in Pyrenees",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/vuelta-third-stage-abandoned-after-hailstorm-in-pyrenees",
        "published": "2026-08-24T15:49:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Third stage of Spanish Vuelta stopped because of hail and no winner declared",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/third-stage-of-spanish-vuelta-stopped-because-of-hail-and-no-winner",
        "published": "2026-08-24T16:08:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Tadej Pogacar pulls over peloton as torrential hailstorm forces Vuelta a Espana stage to be abandoned",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/tadej-pogacar-pulls-over-peloton-as-torrential-hailstorm-forces-3069841",
        "published": "2026-08-24T16:31:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euro Weekly News",
        "title": "Huge tornado rips through southern France as Vuelta cyclists flee giant hailstorm",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/huge-tornado-rips-through-southern-france-as-vuelta-cyclists-flee",
        "published": "2026-08-24T18:37:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Cyclists run for cover as hailstorm forces La Vuelta stage cancellation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/cyclists-run-for-cover-as-hailstorm-forces-la-vuelta-stage",
        "published": "2026-08-24T19:56:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}