Hailstorm Forces Cancellation of La Vuelta Stage 3

Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail

FONT-ROMEU: Severe weather conditions forced organisers to cancel Stage 3 of the 2026 La Vuelta a España on Monday, August 24, after heavy hail and difficult conditions affected the race route near Font-Romeu in France.

The stage was expected to finish with the first summit finish of this year’s race. However, worsening weather conditions made it unsafe for riders to continue.

Several riders were forced to stop and seek shelter as hail and extreme weather reached the peloton.

Stage Result Cancelled

Race organisers confirmed that the stage was cancelled with rider safety as the main priority.

As no official stage result was recorded, the general classification remains unchanged from Sunday’s finish in Manosque.

Tadej Pogačar continues to lead the overall standings and will retain the red jersey for another day.

The Slovenian rider has a nine-second advantage over Wout van Aert, while Matthew Brennan sits a further second behind in third place.

Race Resumes in Andorra

The competition will resume on Tuesday, August 25, with a 104.8-kilometre stage around Andorra la Vella.

Riders will return to action with the overall standings unchanged, while Pogačar will begin the stage wearing the red leader’s jersey.

The cancellation of Stage 3 means the riders will now focus on the next opportunity to gain time in the general classification as the race continues through the mountainous terrain of the Pyrenees.