Giant hail halts Vuelta a España stage three — no winner declared

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Huge hailstones prompt organisers to act 15km from end

Riders seen heading into hotel on route to take cover

The third stage of the Vuelta a España ended without a winner after being halted because of hail on Tuesday.

Riders started taking shelter in shops and restaurants by the road with about 15km to go on the difficult 174km route from ‌Gruissan to ‌Font-Romeu that was set to finish in the French Pyrenees. Organisers neutralised the race as the peloton scaled the Col de Mont-Louis and huge hailstones began pelting the ‌riders, with ice on the road and the threat of lightning. They eventually suspended the stage and declared no winner.

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