Andy will participate in the Clásica San Sebastián

25 July 2010

The course covers 237 kilometers and heads inland into the coastal mountain ranges. Six categorized climbs enliven the proceedings and typically only a small number of riders survive to contest the finale. This race favors the one-day riders who can climb, but also have a fast finish. The final kilometer follows a flat, wide boulevard. Little wonder that Alejandro Valverde won here last year. Thanks to the climber-friendly course, grand tour riders like Carlos Sastre and Cadel Evans have also ridden well at San Sebastián, but the flat finish does them no favors. Past winners include Alejandro Valverde, Leonard Bertagnolli, Paolo Bettini, Erik Dekker, and Laurent Jalabert (twice). Lance Armstrong won the Clásica San Sebastián back in 1995.

Course Details

The race hits the hills right off the start with a series of three categorized climbs in the first 70 kilometers. An early break typically escapes on the slopes of the Alto de Garate or the Alto de Azkarate. Both are rated category 2, and climb for less than ten kilometers. The Clásica course is rarely flat, and after descending the Alto de Azkarate, the riders begin a steady climb to Oñati. From there, the course passes over the seven kilometer Alto de Udana, a category 2 climb. The Udana is not especially steep and its gradients range between 3.5% and 5.0%. The maximum gradient is 5%, and the final two kilometers are at 5% and 4.9%. The Udana will tire the legs, but not decide the race. From the summit of the Alto de Udana, there remains 133 kilometers to race.

The first four climbs generally whittle down the numbers, but the decisive moves will come on the final two climbs of the day, the Alto de Jaizkibel and the Alto de Arkale. The Jaizkibel ascends 8 kilometers and has a maximum gradient of 9%, which comes in the first kilometer. The first five kilometers are steep, though there is a brief stretch of flat road between kilometers 3 and 4. After hitting 8% between kilometers 4 and 5, the climb backs down to 6.5%. The gradient continues to slacken as the road approaches the summit, and the final kilometer is nearly flat. In past editions, no more than 20 to 30 riders have remained in contention after the Jaizkibel. An attack is almost certain to go here, though with nearly 40 kilometers to go to the finish, the Jaizkibel is unlikely to decide the winner.

Last year, the organizers added a final climb, the Alto de Arkale, to give the climbers one last chance to escape closer to the finish. At 2.7 kilometers, the Arkale is short and steep. The first two kilometers climb at 6% and the final .7 kilometer climbs at just over 7%. The Arkale summits with 15 kilometers to race. In last year's edition of the Clásica San Sebastián, Paolo Bettini forced a group of five riders clear on the Arkale, but the move did not survive the flat run-in.

From the summit of the Alto de Arkale, the road descends precipitously back into the city. The course follows wide boulevards to the finish along the Zurriola Playa. The finish is flat, and though the Arkale may create a selection, it is no easy matter to stay away to the finish. Last year, a group of eleven reformed after the final climb, and Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d'Épargne won the sprint to the line.

(all information from www.steephill.tv)

Add Comment

Name

Email (will not be published)

Comment

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Enter the letters you see in the image.

Click to get a new image.