Biblical conditions forced stage three of the Vuelta a Espana to be abandoned with 15km to go as a fierce hailstorm made racing nigh on impossible.
The 174km stage had begun amid warm and sunny conditions in Gruissan-Aude but as the riders headed into the Pyrenees for the final third of the stage, with a summit finish atop the category-two climb of Font Romeu, the heavens opened. Huge hailstorms and ice blanketed the roads and the threat of lightning made for added peril.
Race leader Tadej Pogacar was seen telling riders to slow down and divert off the road after they crested the category-one Col de Mont-Louis, with the peloton following his lead as the race was neutralised.
The conditions wrought havoc with the live broadcast too, with live coverage cutting out entirely as hail thundered down. Pictures resumed to show riders sheltering in a nearby hotel at the top of the Col de Mont-Louis while team staff provided cold and wet weather gear and discussions went on over how to proceed.
The decision was made shortly after to cancel the remainder of the stage, with no stage winner. General classification times and positions remained the same as after stage two, with Pogacar nine seconds clear of Wout van Aert and Britain’s Matthew Brennan, who won on Sunday, third a further second back.
Race organisers said: “For the security of the riders, stage three has been cancelled due to hail and severe weather. There will be no winner and no podium ceremony.”
The weather had calmed down by the finish line – where live footage showed race staff shovelling hail away with brooms in an attempt to make the road usable – but questions remained over the safety of the roads, particularly on the 6km long descent towards the final climb of Font Romeu.
At the time the stage was cancelled Mats Wenzel was the only survivor of a five-man breakaway, with a 20-second lead over solo chaser Lorenzo Fortunato and the peloton a further 20 seconds further back.
Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad had controlled the pace for much of the day and the Slovenian was widely expected to attack on the final climb and extend his narrow lead in the red jersey.
The race continues on Tuesday with a 104.8km stage starting and beginning in Andorra la Vella, which will see a shake-up in the general classification standings as the race favourites tackle four tough categorised climbs.
