A calm and shiny day at this shorter race of the traditional Clasica San Sebastian. Who'll follow last year's winner Prevar? Let's take a look on today's favourites:
Now to the racing!
It took 40 kilometers to have a break that established itself. For a long time it was only Kohler out there, but then a group found themselves ahead:
Dzhus Kohler Camargo Hughes Eyob
In the meantime we have an early hurting crash, it's...
... Di Maggio down early together with Sosnitskiy. A shame for Vontobel, but he can continue.
Many team take on responsibilities in the chase, such as Banc na hÉireann, Euskaltel, Eritel, Wiesenhof, Strava, Kärcher, Netia, Ayubowan. Nicely shared turns, most of the work though is done by Wiesenhof & Banc na hÉireann
Breakaway advantage:
150 km - 5'30
125 km - 6'30 (climax)
100 km - 5'30
90 km - 6'30 (on the second of 4 bigger climbs)
80 km - 5'15
70 km - 3'30
60 km - 3'30
On the third of 4 big climbs with slightly more than 50 to go it was a break-up in the breakaway:
Dzhus & Hughes looking really stronger than the others, Kohler just trying to hang on. But Camargo and Eyob really are looking cooked!
50 km - 3'40
While in the peloton Scarponi pushed the pace a little higher, in the break all but Eyob came back together.
But on the descent in a very wrong moment another crash appeared, tearing down quite some riders, most notably...
... Bratashcuk and almost his whole team. Also Roy and Eibegger down, surely they'll have a hard time to come back.
40 km - 2'20
35 km - 1'40
A very mixed chasing group now going after the leaders:
This is all pushed by still 128 riders in the pack, not the fastest of races so far. And only two climbs left! Alto Arkale though well in sight coming with 30 to go, surely we'll see the first attacks there!
30 km - 1'30
Attack Gautier! The race is opened up, as Cyril Gautier goes hard with a stunning acceleration. Not the rider we expected now, but surely a good idea to play the two cards at different times for Ayubowan.
He went over the top, but Dieteren, surely on a good day, able to bring him back. But wait!
Only Flügel with his countryman, the only other guy in touch is McCarthy. So a group of 4 half a minute over the peloton now! There Sanchez Gil, marked by Bellis, pushes on.
And until the 20 to go mark the Spaniard has absolutely set a fire, and pushed solo to the group ahead!
Breakaway
Group Gautier + '30
Peloton + 1'00
In the peloton now many second tier riders are pushing on:
Most notably work is done by Kastrantas and Debesay.
They worked very well together, so that at 12.5 to go...
...everything was back together! 74 riders heading forward to the steep Bordako Tontorra, the final and very steep climb of the day that comes with 10 to go.
Netia & Wiesenhof...
...in control uinder the banner when we turn right to the steep ramp. When will Dieteren and Palini give it away to their captains?
Right now!
Attack Sanchez! With 9 to go Luis Leon Sanchez does his move. As expected, the climbers are the first to go, and the maestro uses the work of his teammate perfectly for an attack. The first to follow is climbers star Machado. The big stars using what is served on a plate for those, as also Cunego, McCarthy and Di Maggio try to join the fun.
The strongest man in the race though,...
... Dieteren, hasn't had enough yet and pulls the move back for a really comfortable looking Flügel. If every guy had a domestique like the German things wouldn't be interesting anymore.
But one guy hasn't had enough of the climbing yet:
Attack Machado! At a 19,5 % ramp, the steepest part of the race, the Portuguese Tiago Machado goes on a mission again, this time with Cunego as the first to respond.
But again, McCarthy
and now also Flügel disagree with that move and jump after those.
But now it's going to be intersting how the descending ability affects this: Cause Machado is a crappy descender, and behind him Flügel flies his way down.
And indeed, with 4 to go...
...the Portuguese is caught. Evenmore, Caruso reached the group with LuLu having an outstanding downhill section.
Situation with 4 to go:
6 riders
9 riders + '38
Peloton + 1'09
But at least the peloton shouldn't come in reach anymore, as Sosnitskiy is definitely not able to push hard enough.
But in the second group...
... Teklit, Waeytens and Di Maggio could well do the jump to the first group with 2km to go still, as Vichot had to leave a gap open.
Flamme Rouge!
Back to the front, where Flügel goes first! In his wheel Machado, Caruso, Cunego, McCarthy and Sanchez in that row. From behind Waeytens is the strongest, but shouldn't come near enough to reach the leading sextett.
400 meters
The German looks like he got it. Everthing open yet, though it looks like Cunego and McCarthy are dead empty. Machado with a late kick after all his efforts?
It's not enough! Aleksandar Flügel is the winner of the 2016 Clasica San Sebastian. He crosses the finishing line first, with Tiago Machado and Luis Leon Sanchez Gil completing the podium.
Caruso in 4th ahead of Cunego, McCarthy and Waeytens. Teklit in 8th also with a decent result.
Di Maggio surely disappointed in 9th, while...
... Roux completes the Top 10. The bunch sprint, shortly afterwards, is dominated by RBC. Many disappointed faces in there, especially Ayubowan! failed big time here though looking really good at first.
But now let's take a look back at the winner's ceremony, where Aleksandar Flügel can celebrate a well deserved victory.
He has to thank Jan Dieteren though, who made this win for him possible with some hard work and still managed to finish 11th. Will this be a decicive race in the fight for the PCT title already? We'll see in the following pcm.daily coverages of this 2016 man-game season.
Basque Country 
