Vuelta a Murcia

Vuelta a Murcia
Race details
DateMid-February
RegionRegion of Murcia, Spain
English nameTour of Murcia
Local name(s)Vuelta Ciclistica a la Region di Murcia
DisciplineRoad race
CompetitionUCI Europe Tour
Type
  • Stage race (until 2012, 2019–2020)
  • One-day race (2013–2018, 2021–24)
Web sitewww.vueltamurcia.es Edit this at Wikidata
History
First edition1981 (1981)
Editions44 (as of 2024)
First winner Pedro Delgado (ESP)
Most wins Alejandro Valverde (ESP) (5 wins)
Most recent Ben O'Connor (AUS)

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] From 2013 to 2018 the Vuelta a Murcia was organised as a single-day race and shifted to mid-February on the international calendar.[2] In 2019 the race was expanded to two stages.[3] It is part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event.[3] However, due to the postponement of the 2021 edition to May, the race was reverted to its one-day nature, with the expectation that the race will continue as a two-day event in future editions.[4]

  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. ^ a b Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia (2.1) on BikeRaceInfo.
  4. ^ "The 41st Vuelta Ciclista a la Región de Murcia "Costa Cálida"-Gran Premio Banco Sabadell, to start from Los Alcázares and finish on Alcantarilla". Vuelta a Murcia. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.