Preview Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior 2026 - Tom Pidcock main favourite to win gravel race ahead of Strade Bianche duel with Pogacar
Cycling
The Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior takes place on the 16th of February and is one of the most unique races in the calendar. The Spanish one-day is the most similar all-year long to Strade Bianche and provides an unique opportunity to race in the gravel and steep hills right before the Italian classic. We preview the race ahead.
The addition of the Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior to the calendar has been an absolute success, with its many gravel sectors providing for a different early-season challenge; which is used as many riders as a serious goal, and for others as the most specific preparation possible ahead of Strade Bianche - whilst it is included in the middle of other Spanish events that take place in the same time period.
Alexey Lutsenko won the first edition in 2022, and Tadej Pogacar won it back in 2023, bringing the race to the absolute spotlight of the cycling world for a brief period of time. Oier Lazkano won the 2024 edition with a breakthrough breakaway exhibition - which cannot be looked at in the same way now, following his suspension by the UCI - whilst 12 months ago it was former World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski who soared back to have a strong comeback win.
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The route features only 154 kilometers, however they are very difficult. 2300 meters of climbing, the classic Spanish 'rompe-piernas' roads combined with gravel sectors and an uphill finish. It is a race where gaps and the winning attack can come just about anywhere in the final 55 kilometers.
There will be about 28 kilometers of gravel roads, all of them on the second half of the race. These include climbs, descents and everything inbetween. The longest of which, which almost coincides with the finish line, is over 7 kilometers long.
The final ascent the, right after the end of the final gravel sector, is 3 kilometers long at 5%, meaning that riders can indeed wait for the finale to make the difference in case they cannot do so earlier - on on the other side, some riders may make a recovery on the final climb after losing it beforehand.
Prediction Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior 2026:
*** Tom Pidcock, Tim Wellens
** Jan Christen, Iván Romeo, Giulio Pellizzari
* Roger Adrià, Jon Barrenetxea, Pello Bilbao, Matej Mohoric, Gianni Vermeersch, Maxim van Gils, Quinten Hermans, Lukas Kubis, Héctor Alvaréz
** Jan Christen, Iván Romeo, Giulio Pellizzari
* Roger Adrià, Jon Barrenetxea, Pello Bilbao, Matej Mohoric, Gianni Vermeersch, Maxim van Gils, Quinten Hermans, Lukas Kubis, Héctor Alvaréz
Pick: Tom Pidcock
How: Solo win
Original: Rúben Silva
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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