Afflicted by tight budgets, the constriction in length of the Vuelta a Murcia will continue this year, with the organisers confirming that the race will now only be a single-day event in 2013.
First run in 1981, the race has been won by big names such as Pedro Delgado, Miguel Indurain, Marco Pantani and Alejandro Valverde (right). However amid a grim economic climate in Spain, it has faced increasingly tough times in recent years, dropping from five to three stages in 2011 and then losing another stage last season.
“This morning the International Cycling Union has confirmed the proposal of the organisers of the Vuelta for the test to be a week earlier and be held on Saturday February 23,” confirmed the organisers via the race website.
They added that the race will be over 180 kilometres in length and that five WorldTour teams had been secured thus far.
Amongst those who will take part will be three time winner Alejandro Valverde, who has announced his attendance. He said in a recent interview on COPE radio that the race would be one of his early-season targets.
He won in 2004, 2007 and 2008, and has the chance to further extend his record in just over three week’s time.
His Movistar team-mate Nairo Quintana triumphed overall last year.