Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia - Preview
Five days of Racing in the South East of Spain on the Sunny Mediterranean
Coast - A race with something for all the specialists with two days for
the mountain men to take center stage and defy gravity...
Murcia, a city in south-eastern Spain, is the capital and most populous city
of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, and the seventh largest
city in the country. Region Murcia is Located along the Mediterranean coast with
the capital inland; the province is blessed with 300 days of sun; but the next
few days for the race could be unseasonably wet with some rain expected.
The race has something for ever talent in the peloton with two rouleur stages
fit for the sprinters if they can pull back the daily attackers and
adventurers for a mass sprint, two tough climbing stages on stages 2 and 3 -
stage three to Alhama de Murcia no doubt the defining stage.
With the climbing done the individual time trial gives the fast men a shot at
a stage win and will most likely sort the leaders out prior to the final 121 km
final rolling stage giving the sprinters a chance for final glory.
Last years winner Denis Menchov has returned for his first stage race
appointment, with his first meeting with rivals Bradley Wiggins, Lance Armstrong
as they prepare for the tour de France in July.
Plenty of climbing talent to make the race interesting with Thomas Rohregger
of Milram, Iñigo Cuesta of Cervélo Test Team, Danny Pate and David
Zabriskie of Garmin and HTC/Columbia's Vicente Reynes. The race should
hold some surprises with the continental teams and Spanish, Russian and German
national teams looking to make a mark against their more famous and well known
pro tour teams.
The start of the 30th Vuelta a Murcia is in a a small town on the
Mediterranean San Pedro del Pinatar. The first stage is a rolling, up and down
over 5 - 250 to 300 meter climbs over a 165.5 km long
circuit through the region back to San Pedro del Pinatar.
Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia - Spain UCI
2.1
March 3 - 7
Stage 1: San Pedro del Pinatar - San Pedro del Pinatar 166.5 km
Stage 2: Calasparra - Caravaca de la Cruz 169.8 km
Stage 3: Las Torres de Cotillas - Alhama de Murcia 166,5 km
Stage 4: Alhama de Murcia - Alhama de Murcia 22 km ITT
Stage 5: Redyser (Murcia) - Murcia 121.1 km
Total distance: 645.9 km
Race Website
Start List:
Teams, Riders & Bib Numbers
Murcia Tourism
Information
Stage 1 Profile
Stage 1: San Pedro del Pinatar - San Pedro del Pinatar 166.5 km
A rolling stage as a warm up for the peloton and a gift for the sprinters whose
teams can catch the almost certain early break of the eternal optimists, to set up a sprint in Pedro del Pinatar.
With 36 kilometers from the final Cat.3 summit of Alto Portiman to the finish it
will take a determined group to hold the sprinters teams at at bay - but with
rain predicted we could see a break succeed Wednesday afternoon.
Stage 2: Calasparra - Caravaca de la Cru 169.8 km
We could be back into the sunshine come Thursday when the climbing
specialists will be challenged on Stage 2, over almost 170 kilometers from
Calasparra to Caravaca de la Cruz where they will face 2 category 1
climbs. The Alto de San Juan at 1,227 meter climb will be climbed twice at 57 km
and 130 km with the final summit 39.8 km from the finish.
Stage 3 Profile
Stage 3: Las Torres de Cotillas - Alhama de Murcia 166.5 km
Stage 3 is more of the same as the 'mountain men' once again take
center stage on the 166.5 km journey from Las Torres de Cotillas to Alhama de
Murcia cover the very challenging terrain in the mountains of southeast Spain.
Though not a long stage it has three climbs; the day opens with the category 3,
the Alta de Pliego after 69 km ; it sounds insignificant but the climb stretches
22 kilometers to its 465 meter summit.
After 110 km the lads face the final two climbs of the day, two category 1
climbs stacked on top of each other - the first the steep and merciless Alto de
Espuna (700 meters) and then immediately the second more cruel and defining
climb the category 1 Alto del Collado Bermjo - Cima Marco Pantani
reaching 1,150 meters into the sky.
The two monsters come after 110 kilometers of racing and serve up the pain
over the next 17 kilometers to the summit of Collado. The survivors if they have
opened a good enough gap have 33 kilometer downhill to escape to the finish for
glory.
Stage 4 Profile Individual Time Trial
Stage 4: Alhama de Murcia 22 km ITT
The fourth stage is a 22 km long individual time trial; at 22 kilometers it may
well be the stage that decides the podium of the race.
Stage 5 Profile
Stage 5: Redyser (Murcia) - Murcia 121.1 km
The final stage of the 30th edition has two obstacles that come mid stage... it
has all the markings for a sprint finish - but lets allow for the dreamers to
attack early and pour on the coals on the Cat. 2 Alto de Cabeza la Plata (408
meters) and El Garruchal and lose the sprinters to for a chance to decide
the stage on its homecoming into Murcia.
Race Palmares
1981 - 2009
2009 Dennis Menchov Rabobank
2008 Alejandro Valverde Astana
2007 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne
2006 Santos González Comunidad Valenciana
2005 Koldo Gil Liberty Seguros
2004 Alejandro Valverde Kelme
2003 Javier Pascual Llorente Kelme
2002 Víctor Hugo Peña US Postal
2001 Aitor González Kelme-Costa Blanca
2000 David Cañada Banesto
1999 Marco Pantani Vitalicio Seguros
1998 Alberto Elli Once
1997 Juan Carlos Domínguez Kelme-Costa Blanca
1996 Melchor Mauri Ceramiche Refin
1995 Adriano Baffi Motorola
1994 Melchor Mauri Collstrop
1993 Carlos Galarreta Lotto
1992 Alvaro Mejías Seguros Amaya
1991 José Luis Villanueva Once
1990 Tom Cordes Buckler
1989 Marino Alonso Teka
1988 Carlos Hernández Bali Teka
1987 Peio Ruiz Cabestany Seat-Orbea
1986 Miguel Induráin G.D. Reynolds
1985 José Recio Kelme
1984 Ricardo Martínez Sisquillo
1983 Javier Cedena Reynolds
1982 José S. Sanchís Dormilón
1981 Pedro Delgado Flowers
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