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Spain 04 Feb – 08 Feb 2026 Class 2.Pro – Stages – UCI ProSeries
Website www.vueltacv.com
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Mats Wenzel is a rising professional cyclist from Luxembourg, born on December 19, 2002. He is widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in Luxembourgish cycling, known for his versatility on the road and his background in cyclo-cross.
Professional Career
Wenzel’s progression through the ranks has been steady, moving from top-tier development squads to the professional divisions:
- 2021 β 2023: Leopard Pro Cycling (later Leopard TOGT).
- 2024: LidlβTrek Future Racing (the development arm of the WorldTour giant Lidl-Trek).
- 2025 β 2026: Equipo Kern Pharma. He signed his first major professional contract with this Spanish ProTeam starting in the 2025 season.
Career Highlights & Achievements
Wenzel has consistently performed well in prestigious U23 races and national championships, proving his ability to compete against the world’s best young riders.
National Titles (Luxembourg)
- U23 Road Race Champion: 2024
- U23 Time Trial Champion: 2024
- Cyclo-cross: Multiple national titles across Junior and U23 categories (notably 2023 and 2024).
International Standouts
- 2024 European Championships: 4th place in the U23 Road Race.
- Tour de l’Avenir: A consistent performer in “the Tour de France for U23s,” finishing 9th overall in 2024 and 18th in 2023.
- Tour de Luxembourg: Won the Mountains Classification in 2023 and secured a top-10 overall finish (10th) in 2024 while competing against elite WorldTour professionals.
- Giro d’Italia Next Gen 2024: 8th place in the general classification.
- 2025 Games of the Small States of Europe: Gold medal in the Road Race and Bronze in the Time Trial.
Rider Profile
Standing at 1.87 m and weighing approximately 68 kg, Wenzel is a classic climber-puncheur.
“I like hard races where the selection happens naturally from the back,” Wenzel has noted in interviews, highlighting his endurance and ability to perform when the gradient gets steep.
His move to Equipo Kern Pharma in 2025 marks his transition into the “big leagues,” where he is expected to develop into a general classification (GC) contender for stage races.
2026 Route and Stages
The 2026 edition covers approximately 604 km across five stages. This year is particularly notable for the return of the Individual Time Trial (ITT), which is expected to be a decisive factor for the General Classification (GC).
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Type |
| 1 | Feb 4 | Segorbe β Torreblanca | 160 km | Hilly / Sprint Finish |
| 2 | Feb 5 | Carlet β Alginet | 17.5 km | Individual Time Trial |
| 3 | Feb 6 | Orihuela β San Vicente del Raspeig | 158 km | Flat / Transition |
| 4 | Feb 7 | La NucΓa β Teulada Moraira | 172 km | Queen Stage (3,300m climb) |
| 5 | Feb 8 | BΓ©tera β Valencia | 95 km | Flat / Grand Finale |
During the first stage of the 2026 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, which took place on February 4, Luxembourgish rider Mats Wenzel made a significant impact as a key animator of the race.
Performance Highlights: Stage 1
- The Breakaway: Wenzel, riding for Equipo Kern Pharma, spent much of the day in the “fuga del dΓa” (the main breakaway). He was joined by three other riders: Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti VisitMalta), Danny van der Tuuk (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and Adam Lewis (APS Pro Cycling).
- Gap Control: The group established a lead of approximately 2:45 over the peloton as they approached the final 50 kilometers.
- The Finish: The breakaway was eventually neutralized in the closing kilometers by a chasing peloton led by teams like Uno-X and NSN. Wenzel finished safely in the main group, placing 33rd on the stage.
Stage 1 Summary
| Category | Details |
| Route | Segorbe βΊ Torreblanca (160 km) |
| Stage Winner | Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling Team) |
| Wenzel’s Role | Main breakaway member |
| Wenzel’s Result | 33rd (Same time as winner) |
Wenzel’s aggressive riding is consistent with his reputation as a “combative” rider for Kern Pharma. Following this effort, he heads into the Stage 2 Individual Time Trial in a solid position within the general classification.
Mats Wenzel is the leader of the Young Rider Classification after Stage 1 of the 2026 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
While he finished 33rd on the stage in the main group, he secured the youth jersey primarily through his involvement in the day’s main breakaway. During his time out front, he collected enough bonus seconds at intermediate points to move ahead of other young riders in the overall standings.
Young Rider Classification Standings (After Stage 1)
- Mats Wenzel (Equipo Kern Pharma)
- Carl-Frederik BΓ©vort (Uno-X Mobility)
- Alberto Bruttomesso (Bahrain Victorious)
Because of those bonus seconds, Wenzel actually sits 4th overall in the General Classification heading into the Stage 2 Individual Time Trial, trailing the leader, Biniam Girmay, by only 6 seconds.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (also known as the Tour of Valencia) is one of the oldest and most prestigious stage races in Spain. Its history is a mix of early-century pioneer spirit, several periods of disappearance due to financial struggles, and a triumphant modern-day revival.
1. Origins and the “Vuelta a Levante” (1929β1978)
The race was first held in 1929 under the name Vuelta a Levante. At the time, it joined the Volta a Catalunya (1911) and the Tour of the Basque Country (1924) as one of the few multi-day races in Spain.
- The First Winner: Salvador Cardona (Spain) won the inaugural four-stage edition.
- Early Dominance: In the 1930s and 40s, Spanish legends like Mariano CaΓ±ardo and Federico Ezquerra dominated the race.
- Naming Evolution: Over the decades, the race changed names several times, including the Vuelta a la RegiΓ³n de Valencia (1979) and the Vuelta a las Tres Provincias (1980β1983).
2. The Golden Era and Sudden Decline (1984β2008)
In the 1980s and 90s, the race became a staple of the professional calendar. It served as a key early-season indicator of form for Grand Tour contenders.
- International Stars: The race began attracting global icons. Alex ZΓΌlle (Switzerland) won twice in the 90s, while Melchor Mauri became a local hero with two titles.
- The Valverde Era: Alejandro Valverde holds the record for the most overall victories, with three titles (2004, 2007, and 2018).
- The Hiatus: Following the 2008 edition, the global financial crisis hit Spanish cycling hard. The race was cancelled for eight consecutive years (2009β2015) due to a lack of funding and sponsorship.
3. The Modern Revival (2016βPresent)
In 2016, former professional cyclist and 2002 Vuelta a EspaΓ±a winner Γngel Casero successfully led a project to bring the race back to life.
- Successful Return: The race quickly regained its status. Its first edition back was won by Wout Poels of Team Sky.
- UCI Status: In 2020, the race was promoted to the UCI ProSeries, cementing its place as the first major European stage race of the year.
- Diverse Winners: Recent winners reflect the global nature of the sport, including Tadej PogaΔar (2020), Rui Costa (2023), and Santiago Buitrago (2025).
Historical Records
| Category | Record Holder | Details |
| Most General Wins | Alejandro Valverde | 3 Titles (2004, 2007, 2018) |
| Most Stage Wins | Alessandro Petacchi | 11 Wins (The sprint king of the early 2000s) |
| Nation with Most Wins | Spain | 47 overall victories |
| First Foreign Winner | Rik Van Looy (Belgium) | 1958 |
Current Status (2026)
As of February 4, 2026, the 77th edition is officially underway. This year is particularly special because it features the return of a long-distance Individual Time Trial, a feature often absent in recent hilly editions.
