Profile. On the 29th of July the World Tour peloton will get back on the road, leaving behind the Tour de France and going into Spain with a big variety of classics and stage-races. One will be the Clásica San Sebastián which will see the climbers and puncheurs come to the front in a battle for serious points.
The route will total a long 230 kilometers on the road with over 4000 meters of climbing which will leave the climbers and puncheurs as the main favourites. The race sees a lot of climbs early on, although it never goes into the high mountains, instead going through some hilly roads, and the final 10 kilometers will decide the outcome with four key climbs.
The first is the Jaizkibel, 7.4 kilometers long at 5.8% and summits with 94 kilometers to go, with a rather technical descent afterwards. It is farther from the finish this year with the addition of a new climb, but it remains the race's most iconic ascent.
It's followed by the Erlaitz ascent with it’s summit at 73Km to go, it averages over 10% for 4 kilometers, differences can be made, attacks can be dealt and serious damage can be created for the race’s outcome. With it's constant and tough gradients it may be the location where the climbers are the most comfortable and where the race can explode. A plateau section follows before descending into San Sebastián for the first time.
The new addition to this year's route is the ascent to Mendizorrotz. It isn't the hardest or longest climb of the race but it is hard. 4.1 kilometers at 7.3%, but it's first half averages over 10%. It summits with 36 kilometers to go and could be the launching pad for the winning attack.
Over the last few years the crucial point has become the Alto de Murgil. the riders look to save their legs for the final 900 meters of the climb where the gradients are vicious, up to 18% - officially it is 2.0Km at 9.9%, and summits with 8 kilometers to go. From there on it's a mere descent and fast run-in back into the city center for the riders to cross the line.
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