Vuelta a Murcia

Vuelta a Murcia
Race details
Date Mid-February
Region Region of Murcia, Spain
English name Tour of Murcia
Local name(s) Vuelta Ciclistica a la Region di Murcia
Discipline Road race
Competition UCI Europe Tour
Type Stage race (until 2012)
One-day race (2013 onwards)
History
First edition 1981 (1981)
Editions 38 (as of 2018)
First winner  Pedro Delgado (ESP)
Most wins  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) (5 wins)
Most recent  Luis León Sánchez (ESP)

The Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia (English: Tour of Murcia) is a road bicycle race held in and around Murcia, Spain. The first four editions were reserved to amateurs. Originally the race was held in early March and consisted of five stages. However, due to Spain's financial turmoil, the race was scaled back to three stages in 2011 and two stages in 2012.[1] Since 2013 the Vuelta a Murcia is organised as a single-day race and shifted to mid-February on the international calendar.[2] It is part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 1.1 event.[3]

Controversies

All Italian teams were banned from taking part in 2010 edition of the race by the race organizers. This decision was made due to the banning of Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde by the Italian Olympic Committee due to his links with the Operación Puerto blood doping ring.[4]

In 2011 Alberto Contador won both the overall and points classification after winning Stage 2 and the Stage 3 individual time trial. However, in February 2012 he was suspended and all his results after July 2010 were voided, awarding Jérôme Coppel of Saur Sojasun the overall victory.[5]

Past winners – men's race

Rider Team
1981 Spain Pedro Delgado (ESP)
1982 Spain Salvador Sanchis (ESP)
1983 Spain Francisco Javier Cedena (ESP)
1984 Spain Ricardo Martinez (ESP)
1985 Spain José Recio (ESP) Kelme
1986 Spain Miguel Indurain (ESP) Reynolds
1987 Spain Pello Ruiz Cabestany (ESP) Caja Rural-Seat
1988 Spain Carlos Hernández (ESP) Teka
1989 Spain Marino Alonso (ESP) Teka
1990 Netherlands Tom Cordes (NED) Buckler–Colnago–Decca
1991 Spain José Luis Villanueva (ESP) ONCE
1992 Colombia Álvaro Mejía (COL) Postobón
1993 Spain Carlos Galarreta (ESP) Deportpublic
1994 Spain Melchor Mauri (ESP) Banesto
1995 Italy Adriano Baffi (ITA) Mapei-GB
1996 Spain Melchor Mauri (ESP) ONCE
1997 Spain Juan Carlos Domínguez (ESP) Kelme-Costa Blanca
1998 Italy Alberto Elli (ITA) Casino–Ag2r
1999 Italy Marco Pantani (ITA) Mercatone Uno–Bianchi
2000 Spain David Cañada (ESP) ONCE–Deutsche Bank
2001 Spain Aitor González (ESP) Kelme-Costa Blanca
2002 Colombia Víctor Hugo Peña (COL) U.S. Postal Service
2003 Spain Javier Pascual Llorente (ESP) Kelme-Costa Blanca
2004 Spain Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme
2005 Spain Koldo Gil (ESP) Liberty Seguros–Würth
2006 Spain José Iván Gutiérrez[6] (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears
2007 Spain Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne
2008 Spain Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne
2009 Russia Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank
2010 Czech Republic František Raboň (CZE) Team HTC–Columbia
2011 France Jérôme Coppel (FRA) Saur–Sojasun
2012 Colombia Nairo Quintana (COL) Movistar Team
2013 Spain Daniel Navarro (ESP) Cofidis
2014 Spain Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team
2015 Estonia Rein Taaramäe (EST) Astana
2016 Belgium Philippe Gilbert (BEL) BMC Racing Team
2017 Spain Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team
2018 Spain Luis León Sánchez (ESP) Astana

Past winners – women's race

Rider Team
2018 Spain Gloria Rodriguez (ESP) Movistar Team

References

  1. ↑ "Economic crisis hits Tour of Murcia". Cyclingnews. Future Publishing Limited. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  2. ↑ Axelgaard, Emil. "Vuelta a Murcia preview". Cycling Quotes. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "2012 UCI Road Calendar". Union Cycliste Internationale. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  4. ↑ "Tour of Murcia bars Italian teams". Cyclingnews. Future Publishing Limited. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  5. ↑ Stokes, Shane (6 February 2012). "Confirmed: Contador handed two year doping ban,loses 2010 Tour title". VeloNation. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  6. ↑ http://masdeporte.as.com/masdeporte/2006/07/02/polideportivo/1151877902_850215.html
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