Today, Tuesday, the UCI decided to strip Marc Soler of his overall victory in the 2026 Vuelta a Murcia. The Spanish cyclist from UAE Team Emirates - XRG had initially been declared the winner after the cancellation of the second stage of the race.
The Vuelta a Murcia (class 2.1) was scheduled to have two stages. However, the race organisers, in agreement with the commissaires, cancelled the second stage a few minutes after it started due to extremely strong winds affecting the region. It should be noted that bad weather affected the entire Iberian Peninsula last week and suspended some races in both Portugal and Spain.
Marc Soler attack with 40 km to go
The first stage had already been affected by the weather conditions, starting late and being shortened. On that day, a breakaway of 10 men formed with Marc Soler and Julius Johansen, who were later joined by Tim Wellens. The peloton completely dispersed shortly before regrouping.
With 40 kilometres to go, Soler and Johansen attacked and stayed in front until the final climb, where Soler left his teammate behind and took the stage victory. Tom Pidcock launched a strong attack and finished third. On this day, the wind was strong, but it allowed the cyclists to complete the stage safely.
Marc Soler on the podium of La Vuelta 2025, after his victory in La Farrapona
The second day headed onto the road for the queen stage of the race, but right in its first moments, strong gusts were literally blowing riders out of the road. It was not possible to race in such conditions safely and the race was neutralized.
The organization has confirmed its decision through a message: "Due to strong winds, and as it is impossible to continue, the peloton will move to Santomera to ride a 10 km neutralized urban circuit. Times will not be recorded, but there will be a stage winner and the jerseys will be awarded".
UCI Decision
However, the UCI refused to ratify the result. According to the regulations, an overall classification can only be awarded if a race includes more than one stage.
Marc Soler sees his name as the winner of stage 1 in his list of achievements. Fabio Christen, from Pinnarello Q36.5 Por Cycling Team, remains on the throne of the Spanish race for another year, after winning the 2025 edition of the race.
Carlos Silva is a writer for CyclingUpToDate.com, where he contributes race reports, interviews, analysis pieces, and live coverage of the international cycling calendar. Holding a degree in Sports from the Jean Piaget Institute, he combines academic knowledge of performance, training, and competition with hands-on journalism experience in professional cycling.
Throughout his career, Carlos has conducted interviews with leading figures in the sport, including Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodríguez, Óscar Pereiro, João Almeida, Isaac del Toro, Derek Gee, John Degenkolb and Geraint Thomas. These conversations reflect direct engagement with Grand Tour winners, Classics specialists, and emerging talents.
He has provided on-site coverage at major events ranging from the Vuelta a España to the Tour de France, alongside stage races such as Vuelta a Andalucía, Volta ao Algarve, Volta a Portugal and O Gran Camiño. Covering the mythical climbs of the Giro d'Italia remains one of his professional ambitions.
Carlos is responsible for liveblog coverage of all major WorldTour races and beyond, including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. His reporting integrates verified data from ProCyclingStats to ensure statistical accuracy, contextual depth, and analytical precision.
A lifelong cycling enthusiast, he approaches storytelling across written, photographic, and video formats with a focus on credibility, tactical insight, and informed race interpretation.
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