The 2026 Vuelta a España reached Stage 3 on August 24, the first major mountain test of this year’s race. The stage was originally scheduled to start in Gruissan, France, and finish in Font-Romeu after 174 kilometers of racing. The final section was set to enter the Pyrenees, with a climb toward Font-Romeu providing the first summit finish of the race.
However, the highly anticipated mountain battle was disrupted by sudden extreme weather. With around 15–16 kilometers remaining, the riders encountered a severe thunderstorm and heavy hail. The road was quickly covered with hailstones, creating dangerous and extremely slippery conditions. For the safety of the riders, the race organizers ultimately decided to stop and cancel the remaining part of Stage 3.
Intense Racing Before the Cancellation
The early part of the stage was raced under relatively normal conditions, with several riders attacking and attempting to form a breakaway in southern France. Ethan Hayter and Olivier Le Gac were among those who made it into the breakaway, which maintained an advantage over the peloton through the middle section of the stage.
As the race approached the Pyrenees, the difficulty increased significantly. Crosswinds briefly caused the peloton to split, although the main group eventually came back together. The race then reached the Col de Mont-Louis, one of the key climbs of the day. The climb was approximately 19.4 kilometers long, with an average gradient of 4.8%.
Before entering the final mountain section, the breakaway continued to hold an advantage over the peloton. Mats Wenzel and Lorenzo Fortunato later moved clear of the breakaway and had established a gap of around 25 seconds before the race was stopped.
Extreme Weather Changes the Race
As the riders entered the final mountain section, the weather deteriorated rapidly. Heavy rain, thunderstorms and widespread hail hit the course, with the road soon covered by a thick layer of hailstones. Visibility and riding conditions deteriorated sharply.
At that point, the riders were already close to the finish in Font-Romeu, but continuing the race posed an obvious safety risk. Race leader Tadej Pogačar also helped alert riders to the worsening conditions. The peloton subsequently stopped and sought shelter in nearby buildings to escape the storm.
The race jury and organizers eventually decided to cancel the remaining part of the stage. As the stage was not completed, no official stage winner was declared and no Stage 3 results were recorded. The riders’ positions and time gaps before the stoppage were not counted as official stage results.
Pogačar Retains the Red Jersey
Although Stage 3 was cancelled, the results from the completed stages remained valid, meaning Tadej Pogačar retained the red leader’s jersey.
After the opening two stages, Pogačar leads the general classification following his Stage 1 victory and consistent performance on Stage 2. He currently holds a nine-second advantage over Wout van Aert, while Matthew Brennan sits third overall, around 10 seconds behind Pogačar.
Pogačar had originally been expected to have an opportunity to extend his advantage on the first summit finish of the race. UAE Team Emirates-XRG had already begun controlling the peloton as the race reached the Col de Mont-Louis. However, the extreme weather brought the highly anticipated mountain showdown to an early end, leaving the main positions in the general classification unchanged for the time being.
First Mountain Battle Postponed
The cancellation of Stage 3 means that the first major mountain battle of the 2026 Vuelta a España has been postponed. The riders were originally expected to face their first major climbing test at Font-Romeu, but the severe weather ultimately became the defining factor of the day.
For Pogačar, Wout van Aert, Matthew Brennan and the other general classification contenders, the next opportunity for a serious mountain battle will have to wait. With only small time gaps separating the leading riders after the opening stages, the overall classification remains wide open.
Stage 4 Heads to Andorra
Stage 4 of the Vuelta a España will take place on August 25, with the race moving into Andorra. The stage will start and finish in Andorra la Vella and cover 104.8 kilometers. It will feature several climbs and is expected to provide another demanding test for the general classification contenders.
Following the cancellation of Stage 3 due to extreme weather, the battle for the red jersey will resume in Andorra. Whether Pogačar can strengthen his overall lead, and whether Wout van Aert, Matthew Brennan and the other contenders can challenge him in the mountains, will be among the key storylines of Stage 4.
The 2026 Vuelta a España is scheduled to run from August 22 to September 13, featuring 21 stages and covering approximately 3,275 kilometers.
