Just six days after the end of the Tour de France, the Classica San Sebastian is scheduled for Saturday. With Bauke Mollema (winner in 2016), Tom Dumoulin and many other big names at the start. You can find everything you need to know about the 41st edition of the classic Spanish cycling in this article.
the classroom
At about 11.50 a.m., the peloton in the Basque coastal town of San Sebastián takes off for 224.8 kilometers. On paper, there are “only” six rated climbs on the course, but they actually go up and down throughout the day. In the first 100 kilometres, the riders must overcome the Azkars, Ooraki and Kizas. Preparations for the final, which kicks off in principle on the legendary Jezebel. There’s a good chance the toppers out there will actually try to ignite the track.
It is likely that the decision will fall only on the last two and also the most difficult climb of the day, the very narrow and steep Murgil Tontorra and Murgil Tontorra. The latter, in particular, has often been proven to be the executioner in recent years. After Murgil Tontorra, it descends down to about four kilometers from the end, with some serious bends. The last kilometers in the center of San Sebastian became flat again.
slopes:
• Azkarat: 4.4 km at 7.6% (at 168.7 km from the finish).
• Aoraki: 8.8 km with an average of 6.7% (at 152.6 km from the finish).
• Al-Kisa: 4.5 km with an average of 5.8% (at 127.3 km from the end).
• Jezebel: 7.4 kilometers with an average of 5.8% (72.7 kilometers from the finish).
• Airlites: 4 km on average 10.4% (at 48.8 km from the finish).
• Morgel – Tontora: 2.1 km with an average of 9.8% (11.9 km from the finish).
This is what it was like last year
In 2021, due to the Olympics, the Classica San Sebastian is not ridden in the first, but the second weekend after the end of the Tour de France. World champion Julien Alaphilippe was the frontrunner at the start in the absence of, among others, Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic, Wut van Aert and Remko Evenpoel. The Frenchman let his teammates check the race, but surprisingly he didn’t play a significant role.
The main role was played by Nelson Paulis. The American (13th in the last Tour de France) beat Slovenian Mate Mohoric in the half-wheel race and just took his first professional win. It turns out that Mikkel Frølich Honoré, Alaphilippe’s teammate on the Quick-Step team, was the slowest of the trio at the top.
Favorite
There are many big names on the participant list, although we can omit the name Wout van Aert. The Tour de France green jersey winner has rolled around in recent weeks and is now suffering from a cold. Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard is also missing, but the classica wasn’t on his show either.
Vingegaard’s great rival, Tadej Pojjakar, is there. The Slovenian again won three stages in the Tour and finished second in the standings. Ineos Grenadiers builds on the genius of Spanish growth Carlos Rodriguez. The 21-year-old climber was crowned the Spanish road champion at the end of June, but has not raced since. A role serving the number three in the round, Geraint Thomasone possibility.
Dutch cycling enthusiasts immediately think of Classica San Sebastian Bok Molyma. De Groninger has a proven track record in the challenging classic game. He was the highlight of his win in 2016, but he was also on the podium in 2018 (second), 2014 (second) and 2017 (third). In total, Mollema ranked first in the top ten nine times.
Those numbers can Tom Dumoulin He does not consult, although in 2017 (fourth) he was close to the podium. Semberger, 31, will run his first race in over a month in Spain on Saturday. Dumoulin, who is in his final season as a professional, sees this as mainly a preparation for the World Cup, which will take place in Australia in September.
On behalf of Belgium with RYMCO EVENBUIL Winner 2019 at the start. He took part in a somewhat disappointing tour of Switzerland last month, but the last time he won the trial. Evenpole, 22, is the only rider since 2007 to triumph in San Sebastian without completing the Tour de France.
In addition, it is also looking for defending champion Nelson Bowles and teammate Alberto Pettiol (EF Education), former winner Alejandro Valverde, Bahrain trident Landa Muhurik Mader, BikeExchange powerhouse duo Matthews Yates, gyro winner Jay Hindley, Lorenzo Rota and Alexander Kron and Vincenzo Nibali And the French, Guillaume Martin, Romain Bardet, David Godot and Valentin Maduas. Enough reason to watch Saturday!
Last 10 winners
2021: Nelson Paulis
2020: Not working
2019: Remko Evenpoel
2018: Julian Alaphilippe
2017: Michal Kwiatkowski
2016: Bok Molyma
2015: Adam Yates
2014: Alejandro Valverde
2013: Tony Gallopin
2012: Luis Leon Sanchez
Record holder (3 wins)
Marino Legarreta (spa): 1981, 1982, 1987
wins by country
12: Spain
6: Italy
5: France
4: Holland
3: Belgium
2: United States
1st place: Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, Mexico and Poland
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