News | Vuelta a Murcia • February 13, 2026
Soler soars to victory at Vuelta a Murcia as UAE Team Emirates-XRG take control in windy conditions
Johansen puts in stellar ride to take memorable UAE 1-2 as team stack top-10
Marc Soler delivered a superb performance on a dramatically shortened and wind-torn Stage 1 of the Vuelta a la Región de Murcia “Costa Cálida”, riding clear in the finale to take a well-deserved win and the first leader’s jersey of the race for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Teammate Julius Johansen backed up the team’s strength with avery solid second place, securing a remarkable one-two finish for the Emirati squad.
The 83.5 km opener was defined by persistent strong crosswinds that shattered the peloton soon after the start in Cartagena and forced organisers to significantly shorten the stage. The challenging weather conditions helped shape the race’s decisive move: Soler and Johansen made contact with Movistar riders in a select breakaway that formed around 40 km from the finish, before the duo began asserting themselves at the front.
As the race entered its closing phases, UAE Team Emirates-XRG cemented its control. In the final uphill run toward Yecla, Soler capitalised on his climbing strength, moving clear with conviction on the last rise of the day and pulling clear to claim his first victory of the 2026 season. Johansen, rewarded for his work driving the move earlier, held firm on the steep approach to take second, rounding out a powerful team performance.
The strength in depth of the squad showed with no less than five UAE riders rounding out the top-10 through Arrieta (5th), Wellens (7th) and Cosnefroy (10th).
Marc Soler: “I’m really happy with the result and the teamwork. Julius and I were able to get up the road and we just put the head down and stuck with it. It wasn’t easy with the wind.
Tim did a top job behind in the group and helped us out a lot, the team in general was incredible.I’m happy to put on the leaders jersey. Let’s see how the wind is tomorrow and what’s waiting for us.”
The win marks another strong early-season result for UAE Team Emirates-XRG and with the GC lead now in Soler’s hands, the squad will look to defend and build on this advantage as the race continues into Stage 2.
Stage 1 & GC results
1. Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 1:50:34
2.Julius Johansen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +19”
3.Tom Pidcock (Q.36) +40”
