The International Cycling Union (UCI) has accepted the request from the Clasica de Almerica to move the race forward in the 2015 calendar. The organizers have been allowed to host their event on February 15.
The reason for the request is the fact that the race was set to be held on the same date as five other races on the interational calendar. Important races like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne in Belgium and Gran Premio di Lugano in Switzerland would take place in the same weekend. The same goes for the French Classic du Sud Ardeche and Drome Classic. Furthermore, the stage races Tour of Oman and Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia would overlap with the Spanish race.
With the new dates, the Almeria race will no longer be held at the same time as those races and this will undoubtedly lead to a stronger line-up of major teams.
The calenrar problem was aggravated by the fact that some of these races are organizers by major organizers like ASO (Tour de France), making it almost mandatory for major teams to participate in these races.
The decision by the UCI comes as no surprise and many teams have already requested an invitation to participate in the Almeria race from the organizers.
The organizers inform that 15 teams are likely to be at the start on Sunday, February 15. The race is expected to have a distance of 180-190km.
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