Just six days after the end of the Tour de France, the Clásica San Sebastian is on the program today. With Bauke Mollema (winner in 2016), Tom Dumoulin and many other big names at the start. Everything you need to know about the 41st edition of the Spanish cycling classic can be found in this article.
the course
At around 11.50 am, the peloton sets off in the Basque seaside town of San Sebastián for a ride of 224.8 kilometers. On paper there are ‘only’ six categorized climbs on the course, but in reality it goes up and down all day. In the first 100 kilometers the riders have to overcome the Azkarate, Urraki and Alkiza. Warm ups for the final, which in principle erupts on the mythical Jaizkibel. There is a good chance that the toppers there will already try to ignite the course.
The decision will probably only fall on the last two and also the most difficult climbs of the day, the Erlaitz and the terribly narrow and steep Murgil Tontorra. The latter, in particular, has often proved to be the executioner in recent years. After the Murgil Tontorra it goes downhill until about four kilometers from the finish, with some dangerous bends. The last kilometers in the center of San Sebastián are flat again.
The slopes:
• Azkarate: 4.4 kilometers at an average of 7.6% (at 168.7 kilometers from the finish).
• Urraki: 8.8 kilometers at an average of 6.7% (at 152.6 kilometers from the finish).
• Alkiza: 4.5 kilometers at an average of 5.8% (at 127.3 kilometers from the finish).
• Jaizkibel: 7.4 kilometers at an average of 5.8% (72.7 kilometers from the finish).
• Erlaitz: 4 kilometers on average 10.4% (at 48.8 kilometers from the finish).
• Murgil – Tontorra: 2.1 kilometers at an average of 9.8% (at 11.9 kilometers from the finish).
That’s how it was last year
In 2021, because of the Olympic Games, the Clásica San Sebastián was not ridden the first, but the second weekend after the end of the Tour de France. World champion Julian Alaphilippe was the top favorite at the start in the absence of, among others, Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel. The Frenchman let his teammates check the race, but surprisingly did not play a significant role.
The lead role was played by Neilson Powless. The American (thirteenth in the last Tour de France) beat Slovenian Matej Mohoric in the sprint with half a wheel and just booked his first professional victory. Mikkel Frølich Honoré, Alaphilippe’s teammate at Quick-Step, turned out to have the least good sprint in the trio at the top.
The favourites
There are many big names on the list of participants, although we can delete the name of Wout van Aert. The winner of the green jersey in the Tour de France has gone very deep in recent weeks and is now struggling with a cold. Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard is also missing, but the Clásica was not on his program either.
Vingegaard’s great rival, Tadej Pogacar, is there. The Slovenian again won three stages in the Tour and finished second in the standings. Ineos Grenadiers counts on the Spanish growth brillant Carlos Rodriguez. The 21-year-old climber was crowned Spanish road champion at the end of June, but has not raced since then. A serving role for the number three of the Tour, Geraint Thomasis one of the possibilities.
Dutch cycling fans immediately think of the Clásica San Sebastián Bauke Mollema. De Groninger has a great track record in the difficult classic. The highlight was his victory in 2016, but he was also on the podium in 2018 (second), 2014 (second) and 2017 (third). In total, Mollema even finished in the top 10 nine times.
Those numbers can Tom Dumoulin not consult, although in 2017 (fourth) he was close to the podium. The 31-year-old Limburger is riding his first race in more than a month in Spain today. Dumoulin, who is in his last season as a pro, sees it mainly as preparation for the World Cup, which will be held in Australia in September.
On behalf of Belgium, with Remco Evenepoel the 2019 winner at the start. He rode a somewhat disappointing Tour of Switzerland last month, but did win the final time trial. Evenepoel, 22, is the only rider since 2007 to triumph in San Sebastián without having completed the Tour de France.
In addition, it is also on the lookout for defending champion Neilson Powless and his teammate Alberto Bettiol (EF Education), former winner Alejandro Valverde, Bahrain trident Landa-Mohoric-Mäder, strong BikeExchange duo Matthews and Yates, Giro winner Jai Hindley, Lorenzo Rota, Alexander Kron, Vincenzo Nibali and the French Guillaume Martin, Romain Bardet, David Gaudu and Valentin Madouas. Enough reason to watch today!
Last 10 winners
2021: Neilson Powless
2020: not run
2019: Remco Evenepoel
2018: Julian Alaphilippe
2017: Michal Kwiatkowski
2016: Bauke Mollema
2015: Adam Yates
2014: Alejandro Valverde
2013: Tony Gallopin
2012: Luis Leon Sanchez
Record holder (3 wins)
Marino Lejarreta (Spa): 1981, 1982 and 1987
Wins by country
12: Spain
6: Italy
5: France
4: Netherlands
3: Belgium
2: United States
1: Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, Mexico and Poland
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