The 3rd stage of the Tour of Spain was definitively stopped and “cancelled” on Monday by the organization, due to a hailstorm which forced the riders to take shelter less than 20 kilometers from the finish in Font-Romeu, in the French Pyrenees.
“For the safety of the runners, the 3rd stage was canceled due to hail and bad weather. There will be neither winner nor podiums,” said the Vuelta sur X.
While hailstones “the size of a thumb” fell on the peloton, according to a commentator for the broadcaster Eurosport, TV images showed the leader of the Vuelta, the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, telling the riders to stop their effort and take shelter.
Initially stopped “but not suspended”, the race was then definitively stopped. At this point in the 174 km long stage starting from Gruissan in Aude, the Italian Lorenzo Fortunato and the Dutchman Mats Wenzel were in the lead with around twenty seconds ahead of the peloton led by Pogacar.
With grand gestures, the latter, leader of the race, told his peers to slow down and stop the race – a rare image in professional cycling.
With him, several runners found refuge in a hotel located on the side of the course, in the Col de Mont-Louis, the main difficulty of the day, according to television images.
Good weather Tuesday
The ranking therefore remains unchanged. Pogacar, winner of the inaugural time trial on Saturday in Monaco, occupies the lead with nine seconds ahead of Belgian Wout Van Aert. First Frenchman, Léo Bisiaux is 4th at 12 seconds.
Tuesday, the fourth stage contested in Andorra will be short (104 km) but difficult with the ascent of three first category passes, in particular the Port de Anvalira whose summit located at km 25 culminates at 2400 meters.
The weather forecast predicts plenty of sunshine throughout the route.
