- Marc Hirschi raises his arms at the Kursaal in San Sebastian in a close finish
- Marc Hirschi wins his first txapela at the Clásica de San Sebastián
The 43rd edition of the Clásica de San Sebastián has arrived. After more than 365 days of waiting, the best riders in the world have returned to Donostia to compete in one of the most special classics on the calendar.
Great riders such as Jonas Vingegaard, Sepp Kuss, Mikel Landa, Julian Alaphilippe, Ion Izagirre, Daniel Felipe Martinez, Michael Woods and many others took to the starting line in front of the Kursaal.
The race got off to a speedy start with several breakaway attempts. Andazarate, Axel Laurance (ADC, 205) and Alan Jousseaume (TEN, 246) opened up a lead of several metres on the first climb. A few kilometres later, a group of 10 riders broke away from the peloton to form the first breakaway of the day: Simon Carr (EFE, 22), Warren Barguil (DFP, 72), Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (LTK, 84), Sylvain Moniquet (LTD, 124), Davide De Pretto (JAY, 147), Jesus Herrada (COF, 154), Ben Zwiehoff (RBH, 167), Thibault Guernalec (ARK, 214), Ådne Holter (UXM, 233), Pierre Latour (TEN, 242).
After 3 hours of racing and with 103 kilometres to go, the average speed of the riders was 42km/h. The maximum lead by the breakaway was 4 minutes and 15 seconds. The peloton led by the Soudal-Quick Step and Visma – Lease a Bike teams controlled the lead heading into the final part of the race.
The peloton upped the pace with 90 kilometres to go and reduced the gap to 1 minute 40 seconds. At the start of the Jaizkibel climb, the breakaway began to unravel. The initial ramps and the 160km+ ride started to take their toll. At the start of the pass, the leader held a lead of 1 minute and 10 seconds over the main group.
Simon Carr (EFE, 22) led the race alone with several riders behind. He kept his distance from the peloton stable and even increased it to a minute and a half. Always behind, the team of Kuss and Vingegaard led the chase. The British EF Education – Easypost rider started the Erlaitz climb with a 47-second difference. The fight for the top positions caused the distance to increase.
Visma-Lease a Bike set a very strong pace from the bottom, reducing the gap to the breakaway in leaps and bounds. Over just under a kilometre the gap was down to 14 seconds. With two kilometres to go, Julian Alaphilippe (SOQ, 1) and Florian Lopowitz (RBH, 164) attacked and opened up a lead, followed by Pavel Sivakov (UAD, 16). The Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe rider gave way shortly after the change of pace. Alaphilippe and Sivakov lead the race with a small 10-second advantage.
Behind, the other favourites fearlessly tried to close the gap. Jonas Vingegaard, Sergio Higuita and Simon Yates lost contact with the group, ending all chances of victory. Sivakov upped the pace, leaving Alaphilippe behind. The peloton was completely dispersed by the hard ramps and the fast pace of the race. The chasing group, 20 seconds behind the leader, included a group of just 9 riders. Another group of about 12 riders followed. After crowning the summit, on the false flat, a chasing group of 18 riders formed: Julian Alaphilippe (SOQ, 1), Isaac Del Toro (UAD, 13), Jan Christen (UAD, 14), Marc Hirschi (UAD, 15), Brandon Mcnulty (UAD, 17), Neilson Powless (EFE, 24), Clément Berthet (DAT, 53), Kevin Vermaerke (DFP, 77), Patrick Konrad (LTK, 86), Pablo Castrillo (EKP, 91), Andreas Kron (LTD, 123), Lennert Van Eetvelt (LTD, 125), Maxim Van Gils (LTD, 126), George Bennett (IPT, 131), Michael Woods (IPT, 137), Florian Lipowitz (RBH, 164), Jefferson Cepeda (CJR, 173) and Jhonnatan Narvaez (IGD, 224). More than a minute and a half behind, another group followed including Visma-Lease a Bike team and Mikel Landa.
After the second intermediate pass and with only 15 kilometres to go, Sivakov led by 17 seconds, but there was still Pillotegi to go. Right at the start of the climb, Julian Alaphilippe upped the pace. The double world champion wanted to win the Clásica for a second time. On his wheel was Marc Hirschi (UAD, 15). They were soon joined by Brandon McNulty (UAD, 17), Jonathan Narvaez (IGD, 224) and Patrick Konrad (LTK, 86). Time to overcome 27% ramps and Lennert Van Letvelt (LTD, 125) upped the pace, with only Hirschi, Vermaerke and Alaphilippe able to follow him. But Julian Alaphilippe wanted the win and attacked again. Only Hirschi was able to follow. The two riders in the lead started the descent.
The leading duo maintained their lead, followed by Lennert Van Letvelt. It all came down to the final sprint between Alaphilippe and Hirschi, with the Swiss UAE Team Emirates rider crossing the finish line first. Julian Alaphilippe and Lennert Van Letvelt completed the podium.
Winners
First place: Marc Hirschi (UAD, 15)
Second place: Julian Alaphilippe (SOQ, 1)
Third place: Lennert Van Letvelt (LTD, 125)
Winner of the mountain prize: Pavel Sivakov (UAD, 16)
Sprint winner: Pavel Sivakov (UAD, 16)
Best young rider: Jan Christen (UAD, 14)
Best Basque rider: Pavel Sivakov (UAD, 16)
Best team: UAE Team Emirates
Most combative: Julian Alaphilippe (SOQ, 1)
