Valverde to race Vuelta a Murcia 2008

By Antonio J. Salmerón

Alejandro Valverde the 2007 winner of the Vuelta a Murcia has already expressed his interest in the 2008 edition scheduled to be ridden from 5-9 of March. Francisco Gúzman, director of the five day event told the media today in Lorca, which will host the finish of the opening stage that he is counting on Valverde along with Carlos Sastre, Denis Menchov, Danilo Di Luca and Alberto Contador to make the race as exciting as in previous editions. "We are negotiating with Rabobank, CSC, Astana and LPR for the 2008 Vuelta a Murcia, and, why not, with their best riders, as always."

Gúzman is also said that the Euskaltel-Euskadi team along with Samuel Sánchez is interested in racing next year.

The first stage will be raced between San Pedro del Pintar, close to the Mediterranean, and Lorca. The following days stage is being heralded by the organisers as the Queen stage, and will see riders face the first category Collado Bermejo-Cima Marco Pantani climb as they race from Calasparra to Totana. The third stage will finish in San Pedro del Pintar, no start town has been announced as yet, while the fourth stage will be a time trial.

The final stage from San Javier to the capital city of the region of Murcia, includes the el Santuario de la Fuensanta climb which could see the overall classification decided on it's slopes on the final day.