Strong winds across Spain disrupted professional cycling on Saturday, forcing organizers to cancel stage two of the Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana outright and severely curtail the Vuelta a Murcia. The challenging conditions underscored the inherent risks faced by athletes in outdoor sports and prompted swift action to prioritize rider safety.
The most dramatic change came at the Vuelta a Murcia, where stage two, originally slated as a 180km ride from Fortuna to Santomera, was halted shortly after the start. Video footage circulating on social media showed riders struggling to maintain control in the gusting winds, several briefly losing their balance and needing to regain their footing. Race officials quickly determined conditions were too dangerous to continue, opting to neutralize the stage after a short distance.
According to the race website, riders completed a 10-kilometer neutralized section to Santomera, meaning no official times were recorded for the stage. However, organizers confirmed that a stage winner would still be declared and jerseys awarded, ensuring an overall winner for the Vuelta a Murcia would be crowned. The decision, while disappointing for those hoping for a full-fledged competition, was widely praised as a necessary precaution.
The overall standings will therefore reflect the results of Friday’s opening stage, which saw Marc Soler (Movistar Team) take victory by 19 seconds over Julius Johansen (UAE Emirates-XRG). Tom Pidcock of the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team finished 40 seconds behind Soler, securing a strong early position in the general classification. The original stage two route included challenging climbs, including the category 1 Collado Bermejo, but those tests will now remain unridden in this year’s race.
Women’s Race Also Impacted by Severe Weather
The adverse weather conditions weren’t limited to the men’s race. Organizers of the Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana made the difficult decision to cancel day two of the event entirely due to similar high winds. This followed a thrilling opening stage where Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) soloed to victory and a subsequent bunch sprint win for Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team) on Friday.
Vollering retains the overall lead with a 56-second advantage over Maeva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ). Despite the disruption, organizers have confirmed that the women’s race will continue as planned on Sunday, February 15, with a fourth and final stage between Sagunt and Valencia. The cancellation of stage three was prompted by a storm impacting the province of Alicante, according to a statement from the race organizers.
A Pattern of Wind-Related Disruptions
This isn’t the first time strong winds have impacted professional cycling in Spain this year. Last month, the time trial stage of the men’s Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana was also affected by high winds. While Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) emerged victorious in the time trial, the times were ultimately not factored into the general classification due to the challenging conditions.
These recent incidents highlight the increasing challenges posed by unpredictable weather patterns to outdoor sporting events. Race organizers are continually refining their protocols to ensure rider safety, but the inherent risks remain a constant concern.
The Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana will resume Sunday with its final stage, while the Vuelta a Murcia concludes with the overall standings determined by Friday’s results. Both races will undoubtedly be closely watched as riders and teams navigate the remaining challenges and strive for success in the face of unpredictable conditions.
If you’re following the action, you can uncover the latest updates and results on the official websites of the Vuelta a Murcia and the Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana.
What do you think about the decisions made by race organizers? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
