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Cyclists caught in hailstorm during Vuelta A España
On Thursday, the third stage of the international cycling race commonly referred to as “La Vuelta” was called off after a hailstorm interrupted the proceedings. Close to 200 competitors were forced to seek shelter in a hotel along the route, and some of them were among the hundreds of people who flooded it with five-star reviews after receiving some top-notch hospitality.
Most people don’t identify as cycling fans, but if you do, you’re likely familiar with the Vuelta a España, which was held for the first time close to a century ago and has wound through the mountains of Spain (and beyond) every year since 1955.
The race is a grueling test of endurance that can stretch for over 2,000 miles, and the best cyclists in the world are tasked with tackling the steep elevation they’re subjected to in the Pyrenees while enduring close to two dozen individual stages.
The 2026 edition kicked off in Monaco on August 22nd, and this year’s route takes competitors through the south of France and Andorra before they make their way into Spain to complete the total of 21 stages that will culminate with a flat in Granada on September 13th.
As is the case with any cycling race, the elements can come into play at any moment, and that was certainly the case with the scene that unfolded on Thursday.
A French hotel received hundreds of five-star ratings after sheltering 180 cyclists who got bombarded by hail during the Vuelta A España
Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Stage 3 of the Vuelta A España got underway on Thursday, and riders were slated to complete a 103.6-mile trek between the French towns of Gruissan and Font-Romeu.
The front of the peloton was approximately 10 miles away from the finish line when things took an unexpected turn toward the top of Col de Mont-Louis, as the dark skies opened up and started dumping pea-sized pieces of hail onto riders, spectators, and support staff.
According to The Athletic, the majority of the cyclists veered off the course and made a beeline to the front door of the IGESA Village Club, a one-star hotel located in the town of Mont-Louis. 180 of them eventually deposited their bikes outside before seeking refuge, and employees wasted no time springing into action by giving them water, hot beverages, and towels so they could warm up.
The hotel opened up some of its vacant rooms to the riders to allow them to shower and get a massage, and it also made its gym available to competitors who wanted to keep their muscles warm in case they had to resume the race. However, the stage was ultimately called off due to extreme weather, which abated around an hour and a half after the hotel was invaded.
News of the warm reception quickly spread among cycling fans, and the hotel now has a perfect rating on Google thanks to the hundreds of five-star reviews it received. Some of the cyclists also went out of their way to contribute to the cause while thanking the staff for going out of their way to come to their aid.
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