A race with a long and storied history, who will be the winner of this year’s Clasica San Sebastian?
We have a four rider breakaway by the time we cross the Alto de Zala for the first time: Frank, Tybor, Affonso and Asgreen.
With 70km to go we reach the foot of Monte Igeuldo. The break leads by 3’06, with 73 riders remaining in the peloton. So far a few notable names have been dropped, but mainly due to poor positioning on the previous descent: Zaini, Juul-Jensen, Klemme, Caruso, Pichon, Quevedo and Calmejane, all of whom trail by 1’34, and Ben Nasser a minute further back.
The break leads by 3’19 over the summit with 58km to go, although Asgreen has been dropped and caught by the pack. Gebrezgabihier, Barbin, Sepulveda, Froome, Palini and Barrio have all now also been dropped, with the pack now down to 32 riders.
The breakaway trio reach the foot of the second ascent of Monte Igueldo with 29km 2’25 ahead of the pack, which has dropped Asgreen and Hatsuyama in the past 30 kilometres.
Borges puts in an acceleration in the first kilometre of the climb. He doesn’t get a gap, but Gallopin, Destribois, Portela, Dowsett, Trofimov and Daniel are dropped as a result.
Kinoshita then launches a move, followed by Claeys, Borges, Kelderman, Schreurs, Jensen and Flügel. They quickly get a gap of over a minute back to the pack.
Kelderman, Jensen and Flügel can’t hack Kinoshita’s pace though, and they are soon distanced. Behind, Di Maggio and Vogt are the latest riders to be dropped from the 15 rider chase group.
The quartet of favourites catches Tybor, who is dropped from the break a few kilometres from the top of the climb. Their gap to the main group of chasers is now down to 43 seconds, suggesting they may struggle to stay away.
They catch Frank and Affonso with 23km to go, but the chasers are at 26 seconds. Kelderman, Izagirre, Jensen, Vakoc, Prevar, Flügel, Betancourt, Bilbao, Waeytens, Tybor and Boily are in this group, with Meintjes 37 seconds further back, just ahead of Yates and Bellis.
We start the descent with 20km to go with a 15 rider front group, 54 seconds ahead of Yates, Bellis, Meintjes and Boily (who along with Tybor has dropped from the original chase group).
Bellis, Yates and Meintjes bridge back across on the descent, but Boily and Tybor remain 1’21 behind with 16km to go.
As the Alto de Arratzain starts, we see another move from the favourites group. Borges, Claeys, Izagirre, Schreurs, Kelderman and Kinoshita quickly build a 32 second gap.
They are brought back as we start the Alto de Murgil with 11km to go. Frank, Yates and Affonso are dropped from the leading group, but 15 riders remain up front:
Kinoshita launches a huge attack at the bottom of the climb, and quickly builds a gap.
But the 15% ramps are too much for him, and he’s quickly caught.
Izagirre then picks up the pace, and he manages to break the group. Betancourt and Kinoshita follow him, 26 seconds ahead of Kelderman, Claeys, Schreurs, Jensen, Flügel and Borges, with the others at 48 seconds.
Betancourt is distanced on the descent, and the leading duo start the final climb with 6km to go with a 21 second lead. Schreurs and Borges are at 35 seconds, Kelderman, Claeys and Flügel at 53 seconds, and Bellis and Meintjes at 1’09.
They work together well and start the final descent with 4km to go 1’15 ahead of Schreurs and Borges. Betancourt has blown and is at 1’39, about to be caught by Kelderman and Flügel, with Meintjes at 2’09.
Kinoshita leads them under the Flamme Rouge, still 1’07 ahead.
Izagirre launches the sprint, but it’s clear that he has nothing in reserve.
And Kinoshita denies the home favourite the win!
Borges beats Schreurs to 3rd, coming home 1’01 later.
Betancourt finds a second wind to take 5th (+1’33).
Flügel takes 6th ahead of Kelderman (+1’57).
Claeys is 8th (+2’33).
Jensen takes 9th, pipping Bellis and Meintjes on the line. Waeytens almost catches them to take 12th (+3’02) with Vakoc, Bilbao and Prevar completing the top 15.
