The third stage of La Vuelta a Spain 2026 had to be cancelled on Monday after a heavy hailstorm surprised the peloton in the middle of the ascent to Font-Romeu, in the Pyrenees. The organization neutralized the race in the final kilometers due to weather conditions that put the safety of the cyclists at risk.
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The stage, 174 kilometers between Gruissan-Aude and Font-Romeu, was already in its decisive section when the hail began to fall with great intensity. The storm was accompanied by rain, wind and a sharp drop in temperatures, to the point that many riders had to get off their bikes and seek shelter in buildings near the road. The neutralization occurred with about 15 kilometers to go.
Among the runners themselves, the concern was also evident. Tadej Pogacar made gestures asking to stop the march due to the state of the road and the violence of the hailstorm. Finally, the race judges opted to cancel the outcome of a stage completely conditioned by the storm.
CYCLISTS SEEK SHELTER
The images left one of the most unusual scenes of this start of La Vuelta. Several cyclists took shelter in nearby restaurants, homes and other buildings as they waited for the storm to subside.
The forecast already warned of heavy rain in the Font-Romeu area, but the appearance of hail ended up forcing the organization to make an exceptional decision to guarantee the safety of the peloton.
