Severe weather near Font Romeu halted the race as riders sought shelter from heavy rain and hail.
On Monday, a powerful rain and hailstorm during the climb to Col de Mont Louis, 16 kilometers from the finish in Font Romeu, forced the cancellation of Stage 3 of the 2026 Vuelta a España.
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The stage, which was scheduled to be raced entirely on French territory, began without incident in Gruissan-Aude and was set to finish in Font Romeu, the training sanctuary for elite athletes preparing at high altitude.
The first showdown among the race favorites was expected, and the script appeared to be unfolding with Wenzel and Fortunato leading the race near the summit of Mont Saint Louis, while the peloton, led by Pogacar’s UAE team, was preparing a different kind of storm.
Wenzel began the seemingly endless 19-kilometer climb alone, jersey open and chest exposed, seemingly unfazed by the rain that had begun to fall. Two kilometers from the summit, he was joined by Italy’s Fortunato, and the rainstorm quickly turned into a fierce hailstorm that soon covered the asphalt in white.
Moments of uncertainty followed as the hail intensified. The riders decided to get off their bikes and seek shelter wherever they could, in private homes, sheds or under any roof that could protect them from the pounding hailstones. The road became impassable, and conditions were unbearable.
As Pogacar moved to the front of the peloton and raised a hand to stop the riders, Vuelta organizers announced the decision to cancel the stage. It was a disappointing ending. Nature postponed the first major battle among the favorites, or perhaps another display of dominance by Pogacar, until the Andorra stage.
A rare and terrifying natural disaster has struck Europe.
On Monday, August 24, 2026, a large and violent tornado tore through the small southwestern village of Pomas (near Carcassonne), leaving a trail of severe destruction in its wake. Sweeping through the region with… pic.twitter.com/C6bxRi0sGV
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The Logical Decision Was to Put Safety First
The cancellation was a disappointment for the town of Font Romeu, which had long looked forward to hosting the event, but local officials supported the Vuelta’s decision to protect the riders’ safety.
“There is nothing to object to. Canceling the stage was the most logical and reasonable decision. The priority is the riders’ safety, and the conditions made it necessary. No one could be put at risk in the third stage with the entire race still ahead,” the mayor of Font Romeu said.
As a result, the overall standings remained unchanged. Tadej Pogacar kept the red jersey with a nine-second lead over Belgium’s Wout van Aert (Visma) and a 10-second advantage over Britain’s Matthew Brennan.
After the storm, calmer conditions are expected Tuesday for the first major mountain stage of the 2026 Vuelta in Andorra. Starting and finishing in Andorra la Vella, the stage will cover a short but explosive 104.8 kilometers.
The Port d’Envalira (Category 1) will be the first of four climbs on the day’s route, followed by the Collada de Beixalis (Category 1), the Col d’Ordino (Category 1) and La Comella (Category 3), concluding a stage featuring 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) of elevation gain. The race favorites are expected to face off.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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