Vuelta a Murcia 2026 | Belgian champion Wellens, Pidcock back from Chile and Rockets debut for Lafay

Unlike recent years, the Vuelta a Murcia is once again a stage race — even if it is “only” two days long. In the last few seasons, the event in south-east Spain was presented as a one-day race, which still produced some impressive winners.

World champions like Philippe Gilbert and Alejandro Valverde were among those to celebrate in Murcia back in the mid-2010s. The defending champion is Fabio Christen, but the Swiss rider is not on the start list this time. Last year, he was the fastest from a group of big names in the centre of Murcia.

2025 Fabio Christen
2024 Ben O'Connor
2023 Ben Turner
2022 Alessandro Covi
2021 Jesus Antonio Soto
2020 Xandro Meurisse
2019 Luis Leon Sanchez
2018 Luis Leon Sanchez
2017 Alejandro Valverde
2016 Philippe Gilbert

The Vuelta a Murcia opens with a 178.5-kilometre stage from Cartagena to Yecla, with 1,618 metres of climbing spread nicely across the day. The sting is in the tail, though: with four kilometres to go, riders crest the Alto Virgen de Castillo (1.3 km at 7.3%), which looks like the perfect launchpad for the punchy types.

Times
Start: 11:45 AM
Finish: 4 PM

Favorites
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5)
Simone Velasco (XDS-Astana)
Jon Barrenatxea (Movistar)

The second — and final — stage is only 200 metres longer than the opener, but packs around one and a half times as much climbing. That is mainly down to the ascent to Collado Bermejo, which appears after 40 kilometres and measures 16.1 km at an average gradient of 5.5%. After that, the terrain rolls on towards Santomera, so this is a stage that can go in several directions.

Times
Start: 11:15 AM
Finish: 3:30 PM

Favorites
Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)
Raul Garcia Pierna (Movistar)

The man many will be watching is Tom Pidcock — because he is Tom Pidcock, but also because he has just completed an altitude camp in Chile with part of his Pinarello-Q36.5 squad. In the South American summer, the Brit has been preparing for what is to come, starting with this Vuelta a Murcia. Xandro Meurisse, Quinten Hermans, Brent Van Moer and Sjoerd Bax are also on the provisional roster.

Mention February and you quickly arrive at Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates-XRG). The Belgian has a habit of starting his season strongly, and he gets the chance to prove it in Murcia, where he lines up alongside, among others, Marc Soler and Kevin Vermaercke for the Emirati outfit.

Bahrain Victorious brings Pello Bilbao, Matej Mohorič and Attila Valter, while XDS Astana has selected Simone Velasco, Clément Champoussin and Guillermo Thomas Silva. Movistar, meanwhile, includes Jon Barrenatxea and Valencia stage winner Raúl García Pierna.

Lorenzo Rota (Lotto–Intermarché) and Viktor Soenens (Soudal Quick-Step) are also set to start. For the Spanish national team, top talent Héctor Álvarez is one to watch, while Unibet Tietema Rockets will be hoping for a strong debut from Victor Lafay in the team colours. Clément Venturini and Matyáš Kopecký are also on the provisional list for the squad.

Top favorites: Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) and Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Outsiders: Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), Simone Velasco (XDS-Astana), Jon Barrenatxea (Movistar) and Hector Alvarez (Spain)
Long shots: Quinten Hermans, Xandro Meurisse (Q36.5), Marc Soler (UAE Emirates-XRG), Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious), Clément Champoussin (XDS-Astana), Raul Garcia Pierna (Movistar), Victor Lafay and Matyas Kopecky (Unibet Rose Rockets)

Both stages can be seen on Friday and Saturday via HBO Max, starting at 2 PM.