Following a meeting between the Councillor for Sports and Health of the capital, Felipe Coello, and the director of the Vuelta, Paco Guzman, a definitive agreement has been reached whereby Murcia, after three years of absence, will host the finish of the Vuelta a Murcia which will celebrate its 36th edition in 2016.
The last time that Murcia hosted the finish of the Vuelta, the race had already been reduced to two days and the winner was a young Colombian who won his first race as a professional in the ranks of Movistar: Nairo Quintana.
In 2016 the race will again be held over just one day and the starting city if not known yet. It will be held on Saturday February 13.
Fourteen teams, including six from the WordTour, have already applied for an invitation to participate in the event which is likely to have a very selective course.
It may be the last edition with this format because Felipe Coello made it clear that he aims for the Vuelta to again become a stage race and pointed out that three days would be a good format for the race.
Director Paco Guzman shares the desire and will use that support to turn it into reality. A few days agom he took the first step by asking the AEOCC, an association that brings together all the organizers in Spain and is part of the Professional Cycling Council, to allow the Vuelta a Murcia to be included on the UCI calendar as three-day race.
The race was held over five stages until 2010; in 2011 it was held over three days and in 2012 only two. Since 2013 it has been a one-day race with a 1.1 category. Taaraamae (2015), Valverde (2014), Navarro (2013) and Quintana (2012) are the latest winners.
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