Preview Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior 2026 - Tom Pidcock main favourite to win gravel race ahead of Strade Bianche duel with Pogacar

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.

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.

*** 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

Pick: Tom Pidcock

How: Solo win