Vuelta third stage abandoned after hailstorm in Pyrenees

Cycling - Vuelta a Espana - Stage 2 - Monaco to Manosque - Manosque, France - August 23, 2026 Decathlon CMA CGM Team's Jordan Labrosse and riders in action at the start of stage 2 REUTERS/Manon Cruz 24 Aug 2026 11:49PM Aug 24 : A torrential hailstorm in the French Pyrenees forced the abandonment of the third stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Monday.With 15 km (9.32 miles) remaining of the 174-km ride from Gruissan to Font-Romeu, the skies darkened as the peloton scaled the Col de Mont-Louis and huge hailstones began pelting the riders.Race leader and favourite Tadej Pogacar was seen indicating to the main group to pull off the course and soon afterwards drenched riders were shuffling into a hotel for shelter.Shortly afterwards organisers announced the stage would not resume. Source: Reuters