Third Stage of Spanish Vuelta Stopped because of Hail and No Winner Declared
- On Monday, organizers abandoned Stage 3 of the Vuelta a España in the French Pyrenees after a torrential hailstorm struck the 174-kilometer route from Gruissan to Font-Romeu.
- With 15 kilometers remaining, the peloton scaled the Col de Mont-Louis when huge hailstones began pelting riders; race leader Tadej Pogacar signaled the group to pull off the course as ice and lightning created severe safety risks.
- Drenched cyclists shuffled into local shops and restaurants for shelter after the race was neutralized, while Mats Wenzel of Equipo Kern Pharm and Lorenzo Fortunato of XDS Astana were leading a breakaway group.
- Organizers declared the stage void with no winner and no podium ceremony; despite the cancellation, Pogacar remains the race leader after three stages.
- Tuesday's 105-kilometer stage will traverse the Andorran mountains, featuring three climbs where top contenders are expected to separate themselves from the pack before the race finishes in Granada on Sept. 13.
101 Articles
101 Articles
Winter break in high summer! The third stage of the 81st Vuelta was broken off at the final ascent due to a severe storm.
Radio France Internationale
Vuelta stage three abandoned in dangerous weather conditions
Riders, including red jersey-wearing race leader Tadej Pogacar, pulled off the road to take shelter in a hotel amid the severe weather conditions in the Pyrenees. Mats Wenzel and Lorenzo Fortunato had been leading ahead of the peloton when the decision was made. Riders were reaching the top of the penultimate climb on the way to the Font Romeu finish line at the end of the 174-kilometre course from Gruissan. "It's been a good call from the rider…
"For the safety of the riders, the third stage has been cancelled due to hail and severe weather. There will be no winner and no podium finishers," Vuelta a España announced about twenty minutes after the start of a particularly violent weather event. Well before the organizers' decision, Tadej Pogačar himself had urged the riders to stop the race as the peloton of favorites approached the summit of the Col de Mont-Louis, the first of two climb…
Led by Tadej Pogacar, the riders of the Vuelta were forced to set foot on land and shelter on Monday, due to the heavy weather on the French Pyrenees, which interrupted the stage between Gruissan (Aude) and Font-Romeu (Pyrénées-Orientales).
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
