Marcel Camprubí surprises in Sabiñánigo and is crowned the new champion of Spain in his first victory as a professional

The 2026 Spain Road Championship now has a new owner. Marcel Camprubí (Pinarello-Q36.5) was crowned national champion in Sabiñánigo after winning a grueling 211-kilometer race with 3,160 meters of elevation gain, also marking the first professional victory of his career at the age of 24.

Marcel Camprubí conquers the Spain Championship and achieves the first professional victory of his career

The Catalan cyclist succeeds Iván Romeo in the palmarél, who could not defend the red and yellow jersey due to illness, and culminates a particularly notable week after leaving a good impression at the Tour of Switzerland. He was joined on the final podium by Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), second, and Urko Berrade (Equipo Kern Pharma), third.

A race that broke apart from very far away

The route designed around Sabiñánigo left no room for control. The first significant offensive came from Pablo Torres (UAE Emirates-XRG), who took advantage of the early mountainous difficulties to break away solo and managed to build a lead of more than two minutes over a peloton primarily led by Movistar Team.

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His adventure ended before entering the final 26.5-kilometer circuit, where the race began to harden definitively. Attacks followed one after another, and after several attempts, a large front group formed, featuring riders from Caja Rural, UAE Emirates-XRG, Equipo Kern Pharma, Lidl-Trek Future Racing, and Pinarello-Q36.5.

The lack of significant representation from the major WorldTour teams in the leading group ultimately proved decisive for the race's development.

The final selection came 47 kilometers from the finish

One of the key moves of the day came with 47 kilometers to go, when Igor Arrieta accelerated on one of the climbs of the circuit and significantly reduced the leading group. Ahead were Marcel Camprubí, Joel Nicolau, Joan Bou, Urko Berrade, Héctor Álvarez, Igor Arrieta, and Gorka Sorarrain.

The collaboration between the Caja Rural men and Arrieta allowed the lead over the pursuers to grow to over a minute, practically sealing the fight for the title.

As the kilometers passed, the race continued to eliminate candidates. Sorarrain was the first to give in, while Berrade's constant attacks further narrowed the leading group.

A conclusion among three contenders for the red and yellow jersey

The final offensive came within the last 20 kilometers. Berrade launched a new attack that only Nicolau and Camprubí could follow. Although some of the pursuers managed to temporarily return, the effort ultimately took its toll on several of them.

With five kilometers to go, Joan Bou and Igor Arrieta definitively gave in. The Spain Championship was going to be decided among three riders: Camprubí, Nicolau, and Berrade.

The rider from Equipo Kern Pharma was the most combative throughout the day and tried again several times in the final kilometers, but he could not shake off his rivals. Everything was left for the final climb in Sabiñánigo.

There, Camprubí waited for his moment. He launched from Nicolau's wheel and executed a powerful sprint that allowed him to cross the finish line in first position and wear the champion's jersey of Spain for the first time.

Top 10 Spain Elite Men's Championship 2026

1. Marcel Camprubí (Pinarello-Q36.5) – 5:01:09
2. Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) +0:05
3. Urko Berrade (Equipo Kern Pharma) +0:11
4. Joan Bou (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) +0:43
5. Igor Arrieta (UAE Emirates-XRG) +1:05
6. Héctor Álvarez (Lidl-Trek Future Racing) +3:19
7. José Manuel Díaz (Burgos Burpellet BH) +3:31
8. Adrià Pericas (UAE Emirates-XRG) +3:31
9. Roger Adrià (Movistar Team) +3:35
10. Xabier Mikel Azparren (Pinarello-Q36.5) +3:38