There is no real favourite for the Clasica de San Sebastian, a World Tour race scheduled for Saturday 10 August in Spain.

There will be, however, Jonas Vingegaard, whose presence was announced at the last minute and who, at this point, becomes one of the candidates for victory.

Announced absences, however, are those of the defending champion, Remco Evenepoel, and the winner of the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar, to which is added that of Primoz Roglic, who has decided to skip the race held in the Basque Country because he has not yet recovered 100% after the fall at the Tour. Not a good sign in view of the Vuelta a España that will start on August 17. The route is 236 kilometers long and has some new features compared to the previous edition: the decisive passages will be on the Jaizkibel (7.9 km at 5.6%), a climb that will end about sixty kilometers from the finish line. Then the climb of Erlaitz (3.8 km at 10.6% average gradient) which will make a fair selection. Finally, a circuit in the Basque city with the passage on the Pilotegi, 2 km of climbing with an average gradient of 11.7 percent and a peak of 27. Then descent and flat, for 7.5 km, to the finish line.

There is no shortage of interesting names for the final success: it could be the right time for Julian Alaphilippe , who appeared in good shape in the Olympic race where he finished eleventh. Other names to note down in the notebook are Marc Hirschi and Isaac Del Toro of Uae, Maxim Van Gils of Lotto, Giulio Ciccone of Lidl Trek, Sepp Kuss of Visma and Jhonathan Narvaez of Ineos. Fewer chances for veterans Simon Yates, Mikel Landa, Pello Bilbao, who was second here in 2023, and Romain Bardet. Red Bull Bora, without Roglic, is relying on Dani Martinez and Roger Adrià.

Sprint Cycling Photo