'We did it with our heart and with a lot of pleasure' – Hotel owner blown away by riders and five-star reviews after giving shelter to Vuelta a España peloton amid hailstorm
Cyclingnews • • sports
Key Points:
- During stage 3 of the Vuelta a España, a severe hailstorm forced race leader Tadej Pogačar and the peloton to seek shelter at the IGESA Village Club, a modest one-star hotel in the French Pyrenees.
- The hotel staff welcomed around 300 riders alongside their usual guests, providing warmth, towels, hot drinks, and food while the storm passed and the stage was eventually cancelled.
- Riders were noted for their polite and grateful behavior, interacting warmly with hotel guests, signing autographs, and leaving positive feedback, which led to a surge of five-star Google reviews for the hotel.
- The hotel's general manager, Guillaume Villeneuve, emphasized that their assistance was given out of kindness without expecting financial reward, and the race organizers also expressed their gratitude with planned follow-up visits.
- This event highlighted the unexpected role of a humble hotel in a major sporting event, showcasing community spirit and humanity amid the high-pressure environment of professional cycling.
