World Tour racing resumes on the 2nd of August. After the end of the Tour de France always comes one of the hardest and most iconic one-day races of the World Tour calendar in the Clàsica San Sebastiàn - which happens every year in the cycling-loving Basque Country. We take a look at it's profile.
The route will total a long 212 kilometers on the road with over 3900 meters of climbing which will leave the climbers and puncheurs as the main favourites. However, it must be said that the route has lost around 20 kilometers and 500 climbing meters when comparing to last year's route, countering the trend of most races over recent years.
The race sees less climbs early on, down from five to three. They are not easy and can be used to set a high pace that will fatigue the peloton, but the riders won't arrive to the key part of the race with as many kilometers in the legs as they would otherwise.
San Sebastián - San Sebastián, 212.7 kilometers
The first is the Jaizkibel, 7.9 kilometers long at 5.5% and summits with 62 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.
Jaizkibel: 7.9Km; 5.5%; 62Km to go
It's followed by the Erlaitz ascent with it’s summit at 43Km 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.
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Erlaitz: 4Km; 10.4%; 43Km to go
The race then returns to the climb to Murgil. In recent years they've ridden up different sides of the hill next to the city which could be considered different climbs, but this is the most used one in recent years. With 2 kilometers at 9.4% it's a traditional Basque 'wall' and there is a section of 500 meters at 15% which can decimate any group. If there are legs to make a difference in this race, there is the terrain to do so as well.
Murgil Tontorra: 2Km; 9.4%; 7.7Km to go
The descent to the finish then is technical, fast and will leave the riders with only 3 kilometers to go. It is then a fast flat road into the heart of San Sebastián where there will be a solo winner or small sprint for victory.
Map Clàsica San Sebastiàn 2025
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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