Clásica San Sebastián 2016 [FULL RACE]

July 30, 2016

Clásica San Sebastián 2016 – San Sebastián – San Sebastián – 219 km

The Donostia-Donostia Klasikoa — Clásica San Sebastián-San Sebastián (San Sebastián Classic) is a cycle race that has been held every summer since 1981 in San Sebastián, Spain. It is traditionally a climbers’ race, with several famous Grand Tour stars claiming the race.

Bauke Mollema(Trek-Segafredo) took an emotional solo victory at the Clasica San Sebastian after an aggressive solo attack over the new final climb of new Murgil Tontorra just eight kilometres from the finish of the WorldTour race.

The Dutchman opened a gap on the descent and fought off a chase to hit the line alone and celebrate his victory by pointing at his jersey. Behind him Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) beat Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) in the sprint for second, with Purito Rodriguez fourth in his final race in the Basque Country, where he developed as a young amateur rider. They finished a few seconds back, with Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) bringing home other chasers, at 34 seconds.

Just a week ago Mollema was close to tears after losing any chance of finishing on the Tour de France podium due to a crash in the rain on stage to Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc. This victory was of significant consolation and showed his determination to bounce back. It will no doubt also boost his moral as he prepares to travel to Rio for the Olympic road race, where he could again be a major threat on the tough route on next Saturday’s road race.

“I’m really happy to have this win. I felt good all day. In the last years, I was always in the top 10 here. I’ve recovered well from the Tour de France, so I’m really happy with this win,” he said before the podium ceremony.

“The last days of the Tour de France were really disappointing for me. This is a good way to fight back and I think I showed that I have good form and that I can look forward to the Olympics. It’s really nice to win a big classic like this, which is my first WorldTour classic victory. It’s a really nice race and I’ve always wanted to be on the podium at this race and get one of those Basque hats – and now, finally, I have one.”

A tactically astute race

Mollema rode a tactically astute race, letting the Movistar, Orica-BikeExchange and Katusha teams do the work early in the race before making his home and showing his hand on the steepest section of the new Murgil Tontorra climb close to the finish. While his rival hesitated with their chase, he pushed a huge gear and turned the ride to the finish into a victorious time trial.

Before the thrilling finale of the 220km race, the climbs of the more famous Jaizkibel and Arkale did little to split the peloton, with some riders going out of the back but even Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) was able to return to the bunch after only losing contact briefly.

The early break of six riders included Moreno Moser (Cannondale-Drapac), Mario Costa (Lampre-Merida), Pirmin Lang (IAM Cycling), Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (Dimension Data), Jamie Roson (Cajal Rural) and Loic Chetout (Cofidis). They lead over the first climb of the Jaizkibel and the Arkale and were only swept up the second climb of the Jaizkibel, when a brief counter-attack by Dario Cataldo (Astana) and Mikel Landa (Team Sky) worried the other big-name contenders. However the fast climb and fast descent saw the race comeback together and the aggression eased instead of heating up.

Mollema’s big move

The Cannondale-Drapac team took the race by its horns on the Arkale with 30km to go and again on the rolling descent but their rivals were happy to let them do a vital piece of the work before the final shake out. Movistar returned to control the race on the ride back to San Sebastian, stopping any real attacks. Tour de France fatigue was evident.

Things got serious and the race awoke after the passage through the finish in central San Sebastian with 20km to go. Luke Durbridge did a massive turn for Orica and lined out the peloton to the approach of the Murgil Tontorra. His teammates then took over and set up Adam and Simon Yates for the climb. However others took advantage when they faltered. First Purito Rodriguez distanced the British riders and then Mollema dragged Valverde and Gallopin across the gap just as the 20% of the climb kicked in. The whole race was decided in the steep few hundred metres of the climb.

Mollema’s move was enough to spark a selection over the top of the climb with the chasers and the rest of the peloton unable to close the gap on the fast descent and run-in to San Sebastian.

Mollema committed everything he had to try to win solo, while his chasers and especially Valverde rode cautiously, perhaps thinking they would catch on the flatter roads in the city. However the Dutchman got out of sight in the city streets and kept a ten second lead.

It was enough to give him a moment to ease up before the finish and cross the line with his arm in the air. After a series of placing in the Clasica, Mollema final won his Basque beret. He also wiped away at least of part of his Tour de France disappointment and confirmed he will be a dangerous rider in next Saturday’s Olympic road race.

Results :
1 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 5:31:00
2 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal 0:00:17
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team
4 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:22
5 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:00:34
6 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx – Quick-Step
7 Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange
8 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac
9 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky
10 Dries Devenyns (Bel) IAM Cycling 0:00:37
11 Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ 0:00:50
12 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx – Quick-Step
13 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal
14 Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team
15 George Bennett (NZl) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
16 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange
17 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Astana Pro Team
18 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Trek-Segafredo
19 Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Movistar Team
20 Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
21 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal
22 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff Team
23 Jarlinson Pantano Gomez (Col) IAM Cycling
24 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Team Sky
25 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac 0:00:54
26 Pieter Serry (Bel) Etixx – Quick-Step 0:01:02
27 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension Data
28 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx – Quick-Step
29 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
30 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team 0:01:17
31 Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:01:26
32 Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
33 Sam Oomen (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
34 Sergei Chernetski (Rus) Team Katusha 0:01:28
35 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx – Quick-Step
36 Mathias Frank (Swi) IAM Cycling 0:01:29
37 Cyrille Gautier (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
38 Oliver Naesen (Bel) IAM Cycling 0:01:54
39 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff Team
40 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Dimension Data
41 Laurens De Plus (Bel) Etixx – Quick-Step
42 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team
43 Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre – Merida 0:02:36
44 Simone Petilli (Ita) Lampre – Merida
45 Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky
46 Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armentia (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
47 Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
48 Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ
49 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) IAM Cycling
50 Egor Silin (Rus) Team Katusha
51 Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) BMC Racing Team
52 Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
53 Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
54 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin
55 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Team Katusha
56 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
57 Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac
58 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:03:48
59 Simon Clarke (Aus) Cannondale-Drapac
60 Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
61 Michael Woods (Can) Cannondale-Drapac
62 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana Pro Team
63 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Dimension Data
64 Sergio Pardilla Bellon (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
65 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
66 David De La Cruz Melgarejo (Spa) Etixx – Quick-Step
67 Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Team Sky
68 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro Team
69 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-BikeExchange
70 Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-BikeExchange
71 Pierre Latour (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:04:13
72 Tiago Machado (Por) Team Katusha 0:05:24
73 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team
74 Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La Mondiale
75 Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
76 Clement Chevrier (Fra) IAM Cycling
77 Ilia Koshevoy (Blr) Lampre – Merida
78 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Team Katusha
79 Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
80 Sergey Lagutin (Rus) Team Katusha
81 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team 0:06:15
82 Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Movistar Team
83 Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre – Merida 0:06:49
84 Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx – Quick-Step
85 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre – Merida
86 Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac
87 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) BMC Racing Team 0:09:57
88 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
89 Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Spa) Movistar Team
90 Hugh Carthy (GBr) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
91 Moreno Moser (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac
92 Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange 0:10:02
93 Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Orica-BikeExchange
94 Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data 0:13:26
95 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Orica-BikeExchange
96 Jaime Roson Garcia (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
97 Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team
98 Alexey Vermeulen (USA) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
99 Yury Trofimov (Rus) Tinkoff Team
100 Merhawi Kudus Ghebremedhin (Eri) Dimension Data
101 Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) Dimension Data
102 Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff Team
103 Michal Golas (Pol) Team Sky
104 Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJ
105 Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Tinkoff Team
106 Luka Pibernik (Slo) Lampre – Merida
107 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky
108 Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
109 Luis Mas Bonet (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
110 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Trek-Segafredo
111 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Trek-Segafredo
112 Jacques Willem Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension Data
113 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Team Sky
DNF Christian Meier (Can) Orica-BikeExchange
DNF Oscar Gatto (Ita) Tinkoff Team
DNF Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Tinkoff Team
DNF Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff Team
DNF Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF Rory Sutherland (Aus) Movistar Team
DNF Peter Velits (Svk) BMC Racing Team
DNF Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Team Sky
DNF Jhonatan Restrepo (Col) Team Katusha
DNF Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ
DNF Alexandre Geniez (Fra) FDJ
DNF Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ
DNF Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ
DNF Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) FDJ
DNF Davide Malacarne (Ita) Astana Pro Team
DNF Eros Capecchi (Ita) Astana Pro Team
DNF Steven Lammertink (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
DNF Paul Martens (Ger) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
DNF Mario Jorge Faria Da Costa (Por) Lampre – Merida
DNF Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre – Merida
DNF Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Marco Coledan (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin
DNF Chad Haga (USA) Team Giant-Alpecin
DNF Sindre Skjoestad Lunke (Nor) Team Giant-Alpecin
DNF Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
DNF Zico Waeytens (Bel) Team Giant-Alpecin
DNF Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac
DNF Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal
DNF Sean De Bie (Bel) Lotto Soudal
DNF Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Soudal
DNF Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal
DNF Louis Vervaeke (Bel) Lotto Soudal
DNF Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Biel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Pirmin Lang (Swi) IAM Cycling
DNF Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM Cycling
DNF Songezo Jim (RSA) Dimension Data
DNF Carlos Barbero Cuesta (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
DNF Yoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNF Loïc Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNF Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNF Anthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNS Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team