Menchov and Garzelli join Murcia lineup

By Antonio J. Salmerón

Vuelta a Murcia director Francisco Gúzman has announced that he's pleased with the list of professional riders pledging to take part in next year's edition, with 2007 Vuelta a España winner Denis Menchov and Stefano Garzelli reportedly announcing their intention to contest the race. Menchov and Garzelli join Alejandro Valverde and Carlos Sastre on the list of riders expected to take part in next year's race, with Gúzman also confident Spaniard Samuel Sánchez will contest the event as well.

"The last Vuelta winner, Denis Menchov, and the Italian climber Stefano Garzelli have pledged their presence," confirmed Gúzman.

Gúzman is believed to be please with the support the cyclists have shown for the five day Spanish race. "Despite the bad times for cycling, we are having a good support for the next edition," he said. "We are finalizing the details of the route."

The 'queen' stage will be contested between Calasparra and Totana, while the tough fourth stage will be a Time Trial in Alhama. The sprinters will get a chance to show their form on the first stage, which will be carried out between San Pedro del Pintar and Lorca, and again on the third stage in San Pedro del Pinatar, which was won by Rabobank's Graeme Brown in 2007.