Vuelta stage three abandoned after hail in Pyrenees

The third stage of the Vuelta a Espana was abandoned on Monday because of severe weather and hailstorms in the French Pyrenees.A severe hailstorm hit as the riders scaled the Col de Mont-Louis with 15km (9.32 miles) remaining of the 174km ride from Gruissan to Font-Romeu.Overall race leader and favourite Tadej Pogacar was seen indicating to the main group to pull off the course and soon afterwards drenched riders took shelter in a nearby hotel.Shortly afterwards organisers announced the stage would not resume and there would be no winner or podium ceremony.Slovenian Pogacar won the opening stage time trial on Saturday, before Britain's Matt Brennan sprinted to victory in the second stage on Sunday.Tuesday's fourth stage - the first mountain stage of the tour - is a 104.8km route that starts and finishes in Andorran capital Andorra la Vella.Vuelta a Espana general classification after stage three abandonedTadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 4 hours 58mins 40secsWout van Aert (Bel/Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +9secsJames Brennan (GB/Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +10secsLeo Bisiaux (Fra/Decathlon-CMA CGM) +12secsFinn Fisher-Black (NZ/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +14secsStefan Kung (Sui/Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +18secsJay Vine (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) same timeMads Pedersen (Den/Lidl-Trek) +20secsPrimoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe +26secsJordan Labrosse (Fra/Decathlon-CMA CGM) +27secs