By Antonio J. Salmerón
The Vuelta a Murcia (March 4 to 8) is still a few months away and little is known about the route or the potential participants, but a few details have emerged. Riders who raced in 2008 include Alejandro Valverde, Carlos Sastre and Alberto Contador. None of those are expected to take to the start, which appears to lack a mountain top finish in 2009.
Igor Antón of Euskaltel-Euskadi has shown interest in racing. Also expected are José A. Redondo (Andalucia) and the local team Contentpolis AMPO, headed by Aitor Pérez and Manuel Vázquez.
The traditional mountain top finish at the Collado Bermejo seems to be out of the 2009 edition. Nonetheless, a difficult and mountainous queen stage is expected as part of the five-day event.
The time trial will be flat, rather than last year's uphill parcours.
The race will kick off in the city of San Pedro del Pinatar.
