Vuelta a Murcia doesn't count on Marc Soler's palmares after all

Marc Soler stood on the top step of the podium on Saturday as the winner of the Vuelta a Murcia, but he is not allowed to add the race to his palmarès. The UCI ruled that the two-day event was actually a one-day race. The final stage was shortened to a fifteen-minute criterium due to strong winds, with the times not counting towards the general classification.

Since a stage race must consist of at least two stages according to UCI regulations, even in unforeseen circumstances like last weekend, no overall classification was made for the Vuelta a Murcia. Therefore, Soler does not receive the overall victory on his record nor the associated UCI points. For him and his team, it remains a win in stage one and the 14 UCI points that the Spaniard earned there.

The opening stage of the Vuelta a Murcia had already been shortened on Friday. In the end, a 94-kilometer stage was held, which was won by Soler, who crossed the line solo. A day later, Emīls Liepiņš (Pinarello Q36.5) celebrated in the criterium, but this victory will not count as an official UCI win.

Now that Soler's win does not count officially, UAE Emirates XRG stands at eleven instead of twelve victories in 2026.