Profile & Route Clasica San Sebastian 2025

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.