- 25 teams are set to start the 42nd edition of the Clásica San Sebastián
- Big names from the international peloton have pre-registered
The official presentation of the Clásica San Sebastián took place today 19 July at the San Sebastián Town Hall. Among those present were Eneko Goia, Mayor of San Sebastian, Iñaki Gabarain, Sports Councillor for Donostia, Bingen Zupiria, Minister of Culture and Linguistic Policy for the Basque Government, Goizane Álvarez, Member of the Basque Parliament for Culture, Cooperation, Youth and Sports, Idoia González Larrabe, marketing, brand and communication at TotalEnergies, Mikel Arrillaga, head of brands and markets for Eusko Label, and Julián Eraso, President of OCETA.
The official routes and changes compared to the previous year were presented at the event. Julian Eraso, president of OCETA, shared his assessment of this year’s race with the attendees, “This is the 42nd edition of one of the most important Clásicas on the calendar. A clear example of its impact can be seen in the long list of pre-registrations”.
Eneko Goia, Mayor of San Sebastian, highlighted that “We are a city that breathes and lives cycling. The energy of the fans, their passion for cycling, will once again fill the roads for the race, transmitted live all over the world.
We have one of the best one-day races on the international calendar. That’s according to race participants, multiyear winners, and riders who have suffered the climb to Jaizkibel, Erlaitz, Mendizorrotz and Murgil. And that’s thanks to everyone here today, who make it possible for Donostia to continue to be a global leader in one of the most beautiful sports there is”.
Goizane Álvarez, the member for Sports, declared that “the Clásica is a magnificent reflection of our territory. A race where Gipuzkoa can show its best, with a dedicated fan base that participates, enjoys and knows how to come together around sport to share its best values. Gipuzkoa has always had a special connection with cycling, from the start of the 20th Century with the appearance of symbolic companies committed to bicycle manufacturing, the first Gipuzkoan cyclists to compete at the highest level, races that throughout the 20th century became world references such as the Eibar Bicycle Race, la Vuelta, the Climb to Arrate, San Sebastián Classic, the Villafranca Classic, and many others. Gipuzkoa and cycling have a strong relationship that has endured for a hundred years and is still going strong thanks to its citizens, who generation after generation continue to passionately experience the best cycling in the world”.
Bingen Zupiria, Minister of Culture and Language Policy for the Basque Government ended the event by commenting that “the Clásica San Sebastián helps us each year to show who we are internationally. An event of this level attracts the attention of the fans, the media and journalists from all over the world and this helps us to open up and show ourselves internationally. But in recent weeks cycling, and sports in general (Tour, IronMan), have also helped us celebrate generally. Regardless of whether you are a fan of cycling, we have found a way to express our joy, which has been hard to communicate of late, possibly due to the difficulties of recent years (pandemic, etc.). Widespread joy from children, the young and the old, has united different generations. With sport as the “excuse”. 29 July will be another opportunity to continue to experience such moments of joy and to pass it on to the riders and the cycling community”.
The provisional registration list includes great cyclists such as Julian Alaphilippe and the last winner of the Clásica, Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), 2021 Classic winner Neilson Powless, (EF Education – Easypost), Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos-Grenadier), Alex Aranburu (Movistar), Simon Yates (Jayco Alula), Tony Gallopin (LDL – Trek), Juan Ayuso (UAE Emirates), Mikel Landa and Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), Ion Izagirre (Cofidis) and many others.
A celebration of cycling
The organisers of the Clásica expect a great cycling party in San Sebastián on Friday 28th at Jardines de Alderi Eder for the team presentations, and in Gipuzkoa on 29 July for the race.
