Marc Soler of UAE Team Emirates-XRG dominated the opening stage of the Vuelta a Murcia on Friday, February 13, 2026, securing a solo victory after a shortened race due to strong winds. The stage, originally longer, was reduced to 94 kilometers from Fortuna to Yecla, with the Alto Virgen del Castillo providing a challenging final climb just 4 kilometers from the finish line.
Soler launched his decisive move 38 kilometers from the finish, riding alongside teammate Julius Johansen. The duo quickly established a significant lead over the chasing pack, with Tim Wellens playing a crucial role in keeping the peloton at bay. Soler powered ahead of Johansen on the steep ascent of Alto Virgen del Castillo to claim the stage win.
Johansen finished second, completing a remarkable one-two for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5) battled to third place, attacking on the final climb and finishing 41 seconds behind Soler. According to Cyclingnews.com, the British rider crossed the line 20 seconds ahead of the next group of six riders.
The race saw a strong early breakaway featuring Johansen, Soler, Quinten Hermans, Kamil Gradek, Juan Pedro López, Raul Garcia Pierna, Jefferson Cepeda, Luca Paletti, and Héctor Alvárez. Wellens later joined the group, extending their lead to approximately two minutes before Soler and Johansen broke clear.
Pidcock, racing in his first event of the 2026 season, acknowledged that his team was caught off guard by the aggressive tactics of UAE Team Emirates-XRG. “I think the big problem today was that we struggled with our radios a little bit,” Domestique Cycling reports Pidcock said. “They did a perfect race, really.”
The Vuelta a Murcia continues next week with further stages, as riders begin to build form ahead of the spring classics. Soler’s victory puts him in the leader’s jersey as the race progresses.
