- The race will be held on February 10, starting at Primafrio's headquarters in Alhama de Murcia and finishing at Gran Vía de Murcia
- There will be 199 kilometers with 3 mountain passes, 4 Metas Volantes and the Cresta del Gallo as the place where the race will be played out
- There will be 19 teams, 9 of them World Tour teams. Visma | Lease a Bike, INEOS Grenadiers, UAE Team Emirates and Movistar Team head a line-up that includes the three professional cyclists from the Region
- The race will be broadcasted on Eurosport and La 7 Tele. Two hours live in which the Costa Calida will be seen in more than 270 countries
The official presentation of the Vuelta Ciclista a la Región de Murcia - Costa Cálida - Gran Premio Primafrio, which will take place between the headquarters of Primafrio and the Gran Vía de Murcia over a distance of 199 kilometers, was held this Thursday, February 1st, 2024.
The event was attended by: Fran Sánchez, General Director of Sports of the Region de Murcia, María Cánovas, Mayoress of Alhama de Murcia, Miguel Ángel Noguera, Councillor of Sports of Murcia, Juan Jesús Moreno, Mayor of Mula, María Isabel Carrillo, Councillor of Sports of Mazarrón, José Ángel Alfonso, Mayor of Molina de Segura, Sara Díaz, Head of External Relations of Primafrio, Luis León Sánchez, cycling legend, Miguel Fernández, President of the Cycling Federation of the Region of Murcia, and Paco Guzmán, General Director of the Vuelta Ciclista a la Región de Murcia.
Fran Sánchez thanked the work done in each edition. "I want to thank all the city councils and all the sponsors who promote the Vuelta every year. A race whose essence is not its name, but that every Murcian can go out the door of his house and see the international peloton passing by, enjoying the best teams and cyclists in the world. In addition, thousands of people around the world will be able to contemplate the beauty of the live broadcast”.
Sara Díaz shared the honor it is for Primafrio to host the start: "This edition is very special for us, as we will host the start of the race. It is something that fills us with pride in the commemoration of our 60th anniversary. We will open the doors of our home so that all Murcians and cycling fans can enjoy the best teams and riders in the world".
Noguera, Councillor of Sports of Murcia, has celebrated the return of the finish of the race to the city: "The Vuelta is a more than consolidated event, with an international character and participation. Undoubtedly this year we are very lucky, with the return of the end of the race to the Gran Vía. It will bring with it a great economic and social impact on the city, because when a sporting event comes, it comes with its values.
Lastly, Luis León Sánchez reiterated his gratitude for the tributes that will be paid to him: "It is an honor to be paid this tribute. I speak on behalf of all Murcians when I thank the organization for the work they do every year to ensure that this race continues to be a reference".
The race will start at 10:30 AM at Primafrio's headquarters in Alhama de Murcia. A little more than an hour before, at 9:20 am, the signature control will start.
The neutralized route will cross the center of Alhama de Murcia on the way to Totana, where Kilometer 0 will be located. The battle for the first podium option at kilometer 39 will begin. The Memorial Mariano Rojas expands its name to be called Rojas Family Trophy. A decision we have taken to extend to the whole family our recognition and tribute for the role they play and have played in the regional cycling.
Another cyclist being honored will be Luis León Sánchez. The winner of the race in 2018 and 2019 and of a stage in 2020 will name the Meta Volante de Mula (2nd of the route) and the Combativity, as well as the Gobik Celeste Jersey awarded to the winner of this Trophy.
The Collado Bermejo - Cima Marco Pantani will return after its forced absence in 2023 due to the snow and ice that accumulated on its summit. Chained with the Alto de Aledo (3rd Category), it will once again be the place where the first great selection of the race will take place.
Murcia will host again the finish of the Vuelta Ciclista a la Región de Murcia - Costa Cálida - Gran Premio Primafrio.The finish line will again be located in Gran Vía, between the Spanish Bank and Plaza Santa Isabel. The first pass through the finish line, on the opposite way of the finish line, will be the last Meta Volante of the race.
The Cresta del Gallo will once again be the main protagonist. With its summit located 12 kilometers from the finish line, the 5 kilometers of the pass with ramps exceeding 15% will be the scene of the final battle for the victory. The race Will head to Gran Vía by Algezares, Barrio del Progreso, Ronda Sur, Avenida Infante Juan Manuel, Barrio del Carmen and Puente de los Peligros.
La Vuelta presents one of the best participations in its history. The last three winners will be at Primafrio's headquarters on February 10: Ben Turner with INEOS Grenadiers, Alessandro Covi with UAE Team Emirates and Antonio Jesús Soto with Team Kern Pharma.
The big star of this edition will be Sepp Kuss with Visma | Lease a Bike. The winner of the Vuelta a España will captain the formation that won the three grand tours in 2024. A team that also brings Jan Tratnik and Robert Gesink into the fray.
Ben Turner will be supported by a great team. INEOS Grenadiers brings an all-conquering line-up. Michal Kwiatkowski, who has a long list of victories in Grand Tours, monuments and World Championships, will make his debut in our race. Young star Andrew August, the powerful Ethan Hayter and the always reliable Omar Fraile are also on the list.
UAE Team Emirates arrives with Tim Wellens, Rafal Majka and the promising Igor Arrieta alongside Covi to contest the race. Daniel Felipe Martinez and Sergio Higuita captain a Bora - Hansgrohe that returns with Jordi Meeus, third-place finisher in 2023. Bob Jungels and Maximilian Schachmann are other major stars of the German team.
Other major names that will participate are the French champion Valentin Madouas, Ben O'Connor, David de la Cruz, Gianluca Brambilla, Matteo Trentin and the great promise of Belgian cycling Arnaud de Lie.
The three professional cyclists from the Region will also participate: Antonio Jesús Soto, Rubén Fernández and José María García.
All the Spanish teams will participate. Movistar Team, the only Spanish World Team structure, Caja Rural - Seguros RGA, Burgos BH, Equipo Kern Pharma, Euskaltel Euskadi and Illes Balears - Arabay will take the start.
The race will be televised on Eurosport and 7 Televisión. There will be two hours of broadcast in which the Costa Cálida will be seen all over the world. More than 270 countries will watch the decisive phase of the race in a coverage that will include images of the helicopter and that in 2023 contributed greatly to the impact of the race was 12 Million Euros.
We would like to thank Miguel Ángel Noguera Gómez, Sports Councilman of Murcia and Antonio José Sibina, Sports Councilman of Alhama de Murcia, for their support to our race.
To all the sponsors for the support they give us year after year:
- Primafrio, sponsor of the Grand Prix of the race.
- Kia M.Gallego, official car of the Vuelta and sponsor of the white Best Young rider jersey.
- DKMetro Group, sponsor of the King of the Mountain General.
- Balneario de Archena, sponsor of the Metas Volantes.
- Ayuntamiento de Mula, sponsor of the Combativity Award - Luis León Sánchez.
- Juan de Dios Climatización, sponsor of the Best Regional Rider classification.
Also to GOBIK, technical sponsor of the race, to the City Council of Molina de Segura and Sercosmusa, who host the 3rd Meta Volante of the race, and to the City Council of Mazarrón, host of the Meta Volante - Trofeo Familia Rojas.
Finally, we would like to extend our gratitude to Francisco Javier Utrago, Chief Commander of the Traffic Sector of the Civil Guard, to Commissioner Martin of the Local Police of Murcia and to Coherence and Alicia de la Osa for providing the Soundtrack of this edition, as well as to all those involved in the organization
