Clásica San Sebastián Race Report: As anticipated by many, World champion, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Fast-Step) received his third Clásica San Sebastián, however he needed to combat out a last dash with Tour stage winner Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) after dropping Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe) on the ultimate climb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUjEFQgLhAo
2023 Clásica San Sebastián highlights

Remco Evenepoel received the forty third version of the Clásica San Sebastián. The World champion, who additionally received in 2019 and 2022, attacked early on and had solely Pello Bilbao with him on the summit of the final climb. Evenepoel was then the quickest within the dash.

Profile of the 2023 Clásica San Sebastián

The route of the Clásica San Sebastián was barely totally different from final yr, however the climb of the Murgil-Tontorra (2.1km at 9.8%) will nonetheless be the ultimate decider. Remco Evenepoel was the person to beat, similar to in 2022. A yr in the past, the Belgian lived as much as his standing with a second victory within the Klasikoa Donostia, would he take his third?

Two hopefuls at first: Neilson Powless (EF Schooling-EasyPost) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Fast-Step)

The race didn’t begin properly for Evenepoel, because the World champion crashed within the neutralised zone. The Belgian had no issues, as a result of he instantly acquired again on his bike to proceed. Biniam Girmay wasn’t as fortunate. He got here down with Evenepoel and continued, however finally needed to abandon.

The Clásica San Sebastián leaves city by way of La Concha seashore

When the official begin was given, there was a giant combat to get into the ‘break of the day’. After 40 kilometres, 5 riders managed to flee. They had been Romain Bardet (dsm-firmenich), Nathan Van Hooydonck (Jumbo-Visma), Franck Bonnamour (AG2R Citroën), Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek) and residential rider, Mikel Iturria (Euskaltel-Euskadi).

Good structure within the Basque Nation

The 5 took a lead of just about 5 minutes. The peloton, led by Soudal Fast-Step and Bahrain Victorious, didn’t let the hole get any greater. On the Jaizkibel, with a couple of 100 kilometres to go, the lead fell to lower than 3 minutes. Nonetheless, the break didn’t ease up and dropped Bonnamour. There was additionally motion within the peloton. Quinten Hermans, Iván García Cortina and Lawson Craddock tried to cross to the early escapees.

The break of the day with Nathan Van Hooydonck (Jumbo-Visma), Franck Bonnamour (AG2R-Citroën), Romain Bardet (dsm-firmenich), Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek) and Mikel Iturria (Euskaltel-Euskadi)

Typical Basque country-side

On the Erlaitz (4km at 10.3%) the three chasers had been caught, however instantly there was one other counter-attack. Remco Evenepoel made his transfer 73 kilometres to go. Solely Aleksandr Vlasov, Alberto Bettiol and Pello Bilbao had been capable of go along with him. The 4 joined Bardet and Van Hooydonck, the final remaining members of the break.

World champion, Remco Evenepoel on one of many early descents

The break was on the market for a very long time

The six put the strain on within the valley after the Erlaitz. On the foot of the Mendizorrotz (4.1km at 7.3%), the penultimate climb of the day, they’d a lead of 1:15 over thinned peloton, the place Movistar and Lidl-Trek had tried to tug the leaders again. Bauke Mollema had missed all of the strikes and was in a second peloton.

Numerous staff missed the break

Evenepoel was at all times close to the entrance of the climbs

On the Mendizorrotz, Evenepoel attacked within the main group. Van Hooydonck and Bardet, who had been within the break all day, had been the primary to be distanced. Then it was the flip of Bettiol. Within the peloton, Felix Gall tried to get throughout with Tiesj Benoot. Later, the Belgian was changed by Mikel Landa. Behind the group, the Spanish favourites Carlos Rodríguez and Juan Ayuso had been in hassle.

Bardet was eager to get away

The ultimate transfer got here

Landa and Gall had been joined a bit of later by Alex Aranburu, Jakob Fuglsang and Rui Costa, however within the run-up to the Murgil-Tontorra (2.1km at 9.8%) they fell again within the peloton. That peloton could be using for fourth place. UAE Group Emirates continued to chase, however the distinction on the foot of the Murgil had elevated to three minutes.

Vlasov wished to be on the entrance

In fact Evenepoel was there

Evenepoel took the lead within the first kilometre of the climb, however couldn’t do away with the opposite two. On the second a part of the climb Vlasov was dropped. Bilbao went with Evenepoel and was capable of come to the entrance. The 2 had been collectively as they crossed the summit and would combat it out for the victory.

The followers had been out

The profitable break of Evenepoel, Vlasov and Bilbao

The 2023 Clásica San Sebastian would come all the way down to a dash from these two. Evenepoel was in second place and began a protracted dash. The World champion was capable of sustain his effort and maintain off Bilbao to win the Clásica San Sebastián for the third time. Bilbao was second, Vlasov third. Behind that Neilson Powless rode to fourth place, Ion Izagirre was fifth.

Vlasov was dropped on the ultimate climb

San Sebastián win No.3 for Remco Evenepoel

Race winner, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Fast-Step): “I actually like this race. The followers are nice, though at present they cheered a bit of extra for Pello (Bilbao) than for me, however I perceive that. He’s Basque. It was very good to trip the ultimate with him. It provides confidence to start out the second a part of the season like this and to go to the World Championships in Glasgow on this method. I wished to see if riders might be a part of and a really robust group was created. The right guys linked with Alberto, Aleksandr and Pello. We rode tremendous properly collectively. The cooperation was excellent. I set a excessive tempo, which I assumed: I can hold this as much as the highest. I noticed that solely Pello remained. I do know he’s quick. I used to be truly stunned by my dash, as a result of Pello is among the quickest sprinters among the many climbers within the peloton. I believe I nonetheless had excellent legs for the dash.”

2023 Clásica San Sebastián podium

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Clásica San Sebastián Consequence:
1. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Fast Step in 5:30:59
2. Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain Victorious
3. Aleksandr Vlasov (-) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:28
4. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Schooling-EasyPost at 2:50
5. Ion Izagirre (Spa) Cofidis at 2:57
6. Toms Skujiņš (Lat) Lidl-Trek at 3:02
7. Alex Aranburu (Spa) Movistar
8. Rui Costa (Por) Intermarché-Circus-Wanty
9. Andrea Bagioli (Ita) Soudal Fast-Step
10. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Jumbo-Visma.

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