While the 2014 Tour de France may have only recently concluded the World Tour season continues with the one day Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian. With a revamped hilly parcours some 219.2 kilometres-long and staring a new finale, the peloton will not be able to rely on previous experience for the 2014 edition of the iconic Spanish one day race.
The first major change to the parcours comes with the removal of the Third Category Alto de Orio and Second Category Alto de Garate in favour of the First Category Alto de Iturburu. While officially just 3.5 kilometres-long, at an average gradient of five percent, the peloton will begin ascending long before they officially begin the climbing the Alto de Iturburu at the 56 kilometre mark.
Similar to the previous parcours, the peloton will twice climb the First Category Alto de Jaizkibel and Second Category Alto de Arkale before re-entering San Sebastian and crossing the finishing line. However, instead of finishing after the second ascent of the Alto de Arkale the new parcours sees the race continue through town to welcome another new addition, the Bordako Tontorra.
Usurping the Alto de Arkale as kingmaker of the race, the Second Category Bordako Tontorra will quickly sort the wheat from the chaff. A climb for the explosive climbers and puncheurs, the ascent up to Igeldo is 2.5 kilometres-long at an average gradient of nine percent. However, to properly understand just how challenging the ascent of the Bordako Tontorra will be we must examine the climb in further detail.
While the first 800 metres of the climb are at gradient of eight percent, it is followed by the first of three 100 metre sections featuring an agonising gradient of 20 percent. Afterwards the peloton will have a chance of recover with the next 1000 metres at just 4.5 percent, before encountering our second 100 metre section of 20% gradient. The final 800 metres will be decisive, with the final 200 metres, at a gradient of 7.5 percent, preceded by a 500 metre section at 13 percent and our third and final section of 20 percent.
Just seven kilometres, four of those kilometres downhill and the other three flat, separate the summit of the Bordako Tontorra and our finishing line, meaning any indecision or lack of co-operation among the favourites could prove costly. Even the previous parcours, where the summit of the Alto de Arkale lay 15 kilometres from the finish, was no stranger to a surprise late breakaway stealing the show.
It has been a few years since the race was last decided by a very small select bunch sprint between a surprise late breakaway or a group of race favourites. However, in the increasingly unlikely event that a sprint finish does decide the race's victor, the final kilometre occurs on three long straight boulevards, with two left-hand 90-degree bends adjoining them; a finish suited to proper sprinters.
The Contenders
Similar to the Criterium du Dauphine, riders coming off a Grand Tour, in this case the Tour de France, often achieve a great result in the race. Since Leonardo Bertagnolli's victory in 2007, the previous six winners of the Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian have come in to the race off the back of the Tour de France.
The current outright favourite for the race victory is Peter Sagan of Team Cannondale, and having ridden the Tour de France he does fit the current trend. Unable to win a stage at the 2014 Tour de France, the Slovakian will surely be keen to make amends in San Sebastian. However, his rivals will be wary of carrying Sagan to the line for a sprint and will seek to test his climbing on Bordako Tontorra.
One rider who will be seeking to break the recent trend of Tour de France participants winning in San Sebastian will be Philippe Gilbert of BMC Racing. The Belgian has not raced since Belgian National Road Championships near the end of June, meaning he should be fresher than the majority of his rivals. Something that may not be in Gilbert's favour could be the climb of the Bordako Tontorra, with it arguably closer to the Mur de Huy in difficulty than the Cauberg.
Orica – GreenEDGE bring at least a two pronged attack to San Sebastian with Simon Gerrans and Michael Albasini, with the Yates brothers potentially lurking in the shadows ready to cause an upset. While unfortunate, Gerrans' withdrawal before Stage 17 of the Tour de France could leave him slightly fresher than some of his rivals and the climbs should suit Gerrans' explosiveness.
The victor of the 2014 La Flèche Wallonne, also placing well at both Amstel Gold Race and Liège - Bastogne – Liège, Alejandro Valverde of Team Movistar will be a massive threat to the other contenders. Although, just how well the Spaniard has recuperated after an exhausting 2014 Tour de France, where he once again missed out on a podium finish, could ultimate determine whether Valverde walks out with the race victory.
Team Katusha also come to the 2014 Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian with a strong two pronged attack in Joaquim Rodriguez and Daniel Moreno. Both Spaniards are lethal at breaking away on punchy climbs with gradients in the double digits. Having not raced since the Dauphine, Moreno should also be fresher than most, while Joaquim Rodriguez will be looking to continue building towards the 2014 Vuelta a Espana.
Local favourite for the race victory will be Team Sky's Basque rider Mikel Nieve, although Movistar's Igor Anton could be an outsider should Valverde flounder, who come agonisingly close in 2013 with fourth behind Tony Gallopin. As defending champion, Lotto Belisol and Gallopin will be eager to defend their title, however, it remains to be seen whether the Frenchman can survive the slopes of the Bordako Tontorra.
Outsiders for the race include the likes of Daniel Martin of Garmin Sharp, still relatively fresh from his Giro d'Italia layoff; Frank Schleck and Haimar Zubeldia of Trek Factory Racing; Nicolas Roche of Tinkoff Saxo and Romain Bardet of AG2R Le Mondiale.
Since everybody is still waiting for a basque win for god knows how many years, I think the new route suits the few euskadi riders more than previously, at least I hope so. Preferably a young gun like Mikel Landa or Izagirre should win this and get some hype going if I can make a wish
If not them, then let it be Purito (...yeah I know, that's like completely unrealistic with his form and all but anyhoo).
But in more realistic talk: I guess new hill is too tough for Gallopin, so maybe Kreuziger who comes back to racing?!
Edited by Shonak on 29-07-2014 15:10
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Since everybody is still waiting for a basque win for god knows how many years, I think the new route suits the few euskadi riders more than previously, at least I hope so. Preferably a young gun like Mikel Landa or Izagirre should win this and get some hype going if I can make a wish
If not them, then let it be Purito (...yeah I know, that's like completely unrealistic with his form and all but anyhoo).
But in more realistic talk: I guess new hill is too tough for Gallopin, so maybe Kreuziger who comes back to racing?!
Where you got that info about Kreuziger? I only read about him possibly going to champions leaague of cycling in Poland, but San Sebastian is his favourite race, soi t would be nice after long preparation at Passo Tonale.
Ultimately we shall find out when the Startlist is finalized, but so far it hasn't been wildly inaccurate. Giant Shimano, AG2R and Lampre confirmed their rosters earlier yesterday and there wasn't a huge difference in who was originally provisionally penciled in for the race beyond a slight change by AG2R.
The last course the last hill was to far from the finish line and didn't do that much damage i think this is allot better this year, my vote goes for Gilbert.
Edited by Naskela on 30-07-2014 12:03
The course seems tougher than previous year so I doubt that hilly sprinters like Meersman, Van Avermaet or Sagan (although you never know with Sagan ) will survive it. Seems more for Lombardia-like riders.
steve smink wrote:
Hope Dan Martin can get back into form here and really start to give it a go in this end of season burst with Pologne,Vuelta and the WCs
I don't think he is in Garmin's roster for Tour de Pologne. It seems like he may ride Tour de l'Ain before Vuelta.
steve smink wrote:
Hope Dan Martin can get back into form here and really start to give it a go in this end of season burst with Pologne,Vuelta and the WCs
I don't think he is in Garmin's roster for Tour de Pologne. It seems like he may ride Tour de l'Ain before Vuelta.
You are correct, Garmin just announced that recently but Tour de l'Ain is just as tough climbing wise with those last couple of stages
Want to see the final climb before the race begins? Well you are in luck.
Officially 2.5 kilometres-long, at an average gradient of nine percent, the climb personifies throwing the average gradient out the window with sections of up to 20%. The first 800m begin at around 8%, it then throws in 100m of 20%, followed up by 1km of 4.5% leading in to another 100m wall of 20%, which lessens to a less painful 500m stretch of 13%, before we hit 20% for another 100m and finish off with 200m of 7.5%.
Should be able to have the race contenders up soon, the PCS startlist hasn't yet been fully confirmed but the official website's startlist has undergone some heavy updating that matches up with all the news I've seen so far.
Hopefully there will be some heavy racing going on and only small groups come into the climb. With the basque lining up on the sidelines, this climb will be god damn narrow... and steep, and since it's only a few kilometers the finish, big groups will get crazy, a bit like a cow flock.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian (219.2km)
