BARCELONA, July 30. (EUROPEAN PRESS) –
The cyclist Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) won the 41st edition of the Clásica de San Sebastián this Saturday after 224.8 kilometres, crossing the finish line of the boulevard alone with a great display that allowed him to regain the throne after his victory in 2019.
Evenepoel, the youngest champion in the history of the Basque event, donned the traditional ‘txapela’ for the second time in a year in which the Belgian had already won the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, his first ‘Monument’ in his premiere in the oldest of them.
“The Basque fans are incredible. It’s one of the places I like the most in the world, with the best fans. It’s my favorite race along with Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and luckily I’ve won both”, he said after crossing the finish line acclaimed by the fans who supported him for his effort during the day.
At 22 years old, Evenepoel exhibited himself in San Sebastian by breaking the race in Erlaitz after leaving alone with 45 kilometers to go. The Belgian impressed his demanding pace and the fans rewarded his effort on the last climb in Murgil, where the brave Quick Step rider was carried on wings.
The INEOS Grenadiers squad came out to the wheel of the Belgian, although the French Pavel Sivakov and the Spanish Carlos Rodríguez were unable to cut time to a runaway Evenepoel and focused on his particular final ‘time trial’, with more than a minute ahead, which finished without a hitch.
Sivakov took the second position, while Rodríguez gave up in the last section to finish fifth, the best position of the Spanish riders. The podium was closed by the Belgian Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma). For his part, the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) dashed his hopes in Jaizkibel and failed to redeem himself from his second position in the Tour de France.
The veteran Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), who returned to the competition after his accident, did not have his best afternoon and dropped from the peloton before the winner’s final attack. Even so, the Murcian lived a special day receiving a tribute from the organization. In this way, the champion, who will retire at the end of the season, said goodbye to the test that he raised in 2008 and 2014.
A Classic that shows the return of a sweet Evenepoel. The cyclist has managed to leave behind his serious injury that he suffered in 2020 and that took him away from the bicycle for six months. Now, the Belgian’s next objective is the Tour of Spain, which will be held from August 19 to September 11.
