On Monday, August 24, the third stage of the Vuelta a España was abandoned with just 15 kilometers remaining due to a fierce storm. The peloton sought refuge at a hotel in southern France, where they were impressed by the prompt assistance they received from the staff.
Fifteen kilometers before Font-Romeu, the peloton, led by Tadej Pogacar, was caught off guard by the sudden downpour. Pogacar signaled his competitors to stop and exit the course, guiding them to a nearby hotel named IGESA Village Club Mont-Louis Les Sorbiers.
The hotel staff treated the athletes exceptionally well, swiftly providing clean, dry towels, coffee, and tea as they found refuge in the lobby.
Positive Reviews Flood Hotel’s Google Page
In the hours following the incident, a surge of positive reviews from cyclists and teams began to appear on the hotel’s Google page, expressing gratitude for their treatment.
Team Picnic Post NL praised the hotel for its warm and welcoming reception and friendly staff, perfect for sheltering from bad weather.
Tobias Johannessen from UCI WorldTeam Uno-X Mobility noted the ideal location amidst the storm and the rapid provision of towels just two minutes after 180 cyclists arrived unannounced, stating it deserved every star they could give.
Tadej Pogacar thanked IGESA for providing shelter and casually mentioned he is the partner of professional cyclist Urska Zigart from Slovenia.
Joaquin Garcia Torrecilla remarked on the hotel’s ability to accommodate 150 people under harsh weather conditions without prior arrangements, offering towels, tea, and coffee, and expressed gratitude for their hospitality.
Luis Gomez from GI Group Holding–Simoldes–UDO appreciated the swift towel service in less than three minutes, immediate room availability, and excellent comfort, highlighting the lobby’s capacity to host 200 people and welcoming cyclists from all teams.
Rafa Munoz deemed the hotel ideal for cycling races with 200 friends, emphasizing their experience in handling such situations.
Unexpected Encounters in the Hotel Lobby
Additionally, some messages from other guests, while unverifiable, contributed to the narrative. One guest described a humorous interaction with an older man in cycling gear who entered the lobby soaked from the rain and made a comment about the weather.
Another guest recounted a peculiar exchange with a man dressed entirely in red who knocked on their door requesting a clean towel in exchange for his glasses, calling it an unexpected but fair trade.
The fourth stage of the Vuelta is scheduled to commence and conclude in Andorra la Vella, featuring three first-category climbs.
