Spain 29 Jul 2023 Class 1.UWT – 1 day – UCI WorldTour
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Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa
Results: 29 July 2023
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The Clásica Ciclista San Sebastián is the only Spanish one-day classic on the UCI WorldTour calendar but it is a race that is much-loved by the Basque cycling fans, who flock to the roadside to cheer on their favourite riders.
Following the first edition in 1981, the Clásica now kicks off the summer section of the UCI WorldTour races that follow the Tour de France. It is known as Donostia-Donostia Klasikoa in the Basque language but everyone affectionately calls it the Clásica.
The race starts in San Sebastián, overlooking the beach that is packed with tourists enjoying the summer sun. The riders, however, face a tough day in the saddle. The 220km route climbs into the Basque hills meaning it is a race for the climbers and for the riders who have emerged from the recently concluded Tour de France in excellent form. The decisive attacks usually come on the slopes of the first category Alto de Jaizkibel climb high above the Bay of Biscay coastline. The climb is tackled twice, and includes two difficult sections at its foot and around half-way up: this is where teams force a split before their leaders take over when in sight of the summit. Then following a dangerous, fast descent back down to sea level, the top riders go on to fight for victory back in San Sebastián.
Race organisers introduced the new short climb of Bordako Tontorra in 2014, just seven kilometres from the finish. It sparked an even more selective race with Joaquim Rodríguez going on the attack in sight of the summit. He was joined by Alejandro Valverde, Mikel Nieve, Adam Yates and Bauke Mollema on the descent but when Yates crashed on the high-speed descent, Valverde opened up a gap and never looked back. He won alone in San Sebastián’s Boulevard Donostia to take his second Clásica victory, six years after his first in 2008.
Valverde scored 80 UCI WorldTour points for his victory, strengthening his points total for the 2014 season which he ended as the number one ranked rider in the UCI WorldTour individual classification.
Another victory would see Valverde join Spain’s Marino Lejarreta, who won the first and second Clásicas in 1981 and 1982 and a third in 1987, as a triple winner of this race which is now in its 35th edition.
