Remco Evenepoel’s return to racing virtually didn’t go precisely as deliberate. The Belgian star of Soudal-Fast Step, a two-time winner on the Clasica San Sebastian already, was trying to safe a record-tying third win within the Basque traditional by doing what he all the time does — moving into the lead group and slowly using everybody off his wheel. However Bahrain’s Pello Bilbao, racing in his residence area, had different concepts, staying with the World Champion and Bora’s Alexander Vlasov to the ultimate climb, and never simply matching wheels over the ultimate Murgil ascent however even poking his nostril into the wind, and poking a gap into the inevitability of the narrative. Bilbao’s transient transfer was sufficient to drop Vlasov and set himself up for a two-man race, the place the Basque was thought to have a sprinting benefit.

However Evenepoel had a backup plan. Maintaining the tempo excessive, the Belgian set himself up for a dash that did materialize, and fell into his arms completely, when Bilbao took his flip on the entrance with 600 meters to go. That gave Evenepoel the possibility to take a seat on Bilbao till the ultimate dash, and Remco executed this completely, with room to lift his arms a motorcycle size forward of Bilbao for the win. Vlasov remained away from the peloton to take third. Nielson Powless, a former winner right here, took the peloton arrival for fourth forward of Ion Izagirre.

Evenepoel’s third win ties him with Marino Lejarreta for the document. Not dangerous for a 23-year-old. Guessing he might be heard from right here once more.

1. EVENEPOEL Remco, Soudal – Fast Step, 5:30:59
2. BILBAO Pello, Bahrain – Victorious, s.t.
3. VLASOV Aleksandr, BORA – hansgrohe, at 0:28
4. POWLESS Neilson, EF Training-EasyPost, 2:50
5. IZAGIRRE Ion, Cofidis, 2:57
6. SKUJIŅŠ Toms, Lidl – Trek, 3:02
7. ARANBURU Alex, Movistar Crew, 3:02
8. COSTA Rui, Intermarché – Circus – Wanty, 3:02
9. BAGIOLI Andrea, Soudal – Fast Step 3:02
10. BENOOT Tiesj, Jumbo-Visma, 3:02

Donostia – Donostia 230.3 km

The boys are slowly popping out of their post-Tour hangover. San Sebastian is a race that’s a lot too good for its dodgy calendar spot, let’s see what it delivers in the present day.

Anticipated end time: 16:30-17:10 CEST

Don Ostia of the Day: Juan Ayuso

A number of TdF riders, a number of riders getting in gear for Worlds, this may very well be a powerful version. And the course is sweet for wonderkids.

Official web site , Startlist