Report: Clásica Ciclista San Sebastian

Michal Kwiatkowski sprints to victory in Clásica Ciclista San Sebastian ahead of Gallopin and Mollema

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Report: Clásica Ciclista San Sebastian

It was some finale in Clásica Ciclista San Sebastian after the early skirmishes and control by Ag2R and Team Sky. Early in the race, a seven-rider breakaway went clear extended their lead to more than five minutes before the peloton co-operated to bring the group back. The catch was made with 55km to go on the final ascent of the category 1 Jaizkibel climb and new attacks started almost immediately.

One of the big moves, from splits where some of the race favourites were seemingly caught out, was by Gianni Moscon (Team Sky) who went solo from a small group. 20km from the finish line, the peloton had caught the remaining breakaway riders with the exception of Moscon who was 39 seconds in front, however, the fast pace set behind meant his lead was reducing with every kilometre.

The strength of the peloton on the category 2 Murgil Tontorra climb was too much and Moscon was caught with 10km to go, before further attacks kept the guessing game going as to who looked likley to win. With the gradient on the final climb, reaching over 18 percent at the top of the final climb, and after a endurance sapping 220 kilometres had been raced, there was no hiding: the strongest riders emerged. Mikel Landa (Sky) and Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) were the first to accelerate and open a gap while Mollema bridged across to the pair before the summit.

On the descent, Kwiatkowski bridged across, and Dumoulin grabbed back the four leaders with 2.5 kilometers to go. With two teammates in the five, the numbers favored Team Sky. In the final 1500 meters, Landa accelerated with Dumoulin giving chase. Mollema, not willing to let a podium slip from his grasp so easily, closed the gap to the two, and then still had enough to pull out a third place in the sprint but the day belonged to Kwiatkowski who added yet another major classic to his name in 2017.
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Michal Kwiatkowski  “It’s a great day. Winning this race this way was a dream for me. I’m very grateful to my team-mates. Landa played a crucial role and I want to thank him for waiting in the final. We took the responsibility from the beginning. We believed from the start that we could win and it’s a pleasure to come here because it’s a beautiful city with amazing fans”.

“I didn’t know how I’d feel after the Tour de France. I took some rest last week so I could prepare myself for this race.”

Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal): “The team did an excellent job today. Tiesj, Jelle and I were in a good position when we got at the foot of the last climb. My legs felt very good. When Landa attacked I followed. I know the climb and I knew the last three hundred metres would be less steep, so I joined his attack. Unfortunately Landa’s teammate Kwiatkowski was riding behind us, so he didn’t cooperate with Mollema and me. When Dumoulin closed the gap as well, I feared that he would cooperate with Mollema.”

“After Kwiatkowski had come back in the descent, I focussed on the sprint. I started the sprint early, maybe too early. But Kwiatkowski was the fastest, so I can accept it. Although it is disappointing to finish second in this race for the second year in a row.”

“The team was very strong today. We had five riders at the front in the finale and the others had done their job beforehand, like Rémy Mertz who had pulled in the bunch. Lars Bak and Tosh Van der Sande made sure we could start the last climb in a good position. It’s very nice this way. My next race will be the BinckBank Tour (7 till 13 August). I feel strong after the Tour and hope to keep it this way for a while.

Bauke Mollema (Trek Segafredo): “I always like this race, and I always feel good after the Tour. I did a few criteriums this week, and that helped me stay in the rhythm and keep the speed. I felt good today, the whole day, and in this race it all comes down to the last climb, the steep one at the end,” said Mollema.

“I felt good there at the top, I was with the best riders, with Gallopin and Landa, and I wanted to go with these guys to the finish because there I maybe had a chance in the sprint, so I pulled full gas the first part of the descent. But then (Michal) Kwiatkowski came back, then (Tom) Dumoulin, and that was a pity because then Sky had two guys there and Kwiatkowski is really fast,” Mollema added.

“I knew it would be really difficult and I just tried to do my best sprint. I think I did a pretty good sprint, but those guys are just faster in a finish like this,” explained Mollema. “Now I get a bit of a break after doing the Giro and the Tour, I’ve been racing a lot already. I hope to be ready again for the last month of the season.”

Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb): “Today was a really good race for the team, everything went according to plan. The team protected me and Warren until the last climb and covered all the attacks beforehand. We were in a good position before the climb and from there it was full gas to the top. I didn’t know the descent so well so made a few mistakes that meant I had to chase even harder to get to the front, but I eventually managed to make it across. In the final I didn’t have the legs so couldn’t go for the sprint. It was a good race for the whole team, tactically we did everything perfectly so we can be satisfied with the day.”

Greg Van Avermaet (BMC): “I’m pretty happy. I could have maybe been two places better because Alberto Bettiol (Cannondale-Drapac) went away on the flat and I made a little mistake in the sprint so I didn’t win the sprint from the peloton. The maximum result would have been sixth and now I’m eighth so I think I should be happy. It was a goal to get a top ten result and I was really happy with my feelings and my legs. It was a good day.”

“I know I am always good after the Tour de France but in the last week I was struggling a little bit with sickness, so there was always a question mark on my form today. I know if I can take a little rest after the Tour, I’m pretty good in the races afterwards. So, it’s always good to get this nice feeling back and I think the parcours with the last climb is on the limit for me. This we know from the last years. Last year I was fifth, this year I was eighth, but it depends on the race situation and how many guys go on the climb. In the end, I think I am on the same level as last year and ready for my upcoming races.”

Neil Stephens (Orica Scott – Simon Yates DS): “It was a really hard and tricky race today.We came into the race well prepared and highly motivated and we were content to let the early breakaway go, before we got involved with bringing things back together with Svein Tuft doing a great job on the front. Once the race came back together the pace was really high and along with a lot of other teams we had to adjust. Roman Kreuziger did very well marshalling the late attacks and Jens brought Simon onto the final climb up there with the other favourites.

“It was a great job by the team, but we just missed out on that final move on the climb. Those last attacks were devastating and completely split the favourites group, Simon chased hard, but it wasn’t to be. He goes into a very well earned break now and we will look ahead to the next races.”

Result
1. Michal Kwiatkowski , Team Sky
2. Tony Gallopin, Lotto Soudal
3. Bauke Mollema, Trek – Segafredo
4. Tom Dumoulin, Team Sunweb
5. Mikel Landa, Team Sky
6. Alberto Bettiol Cannondale-Drapac 0:28
7. Anthony Roux FDJ 0:38
8. Greg Van Avermaet, BMC Racing Team
9. Tiesj Benoot, Lotto Soudal
10. Nicolas Roche, BMC Racing Team

13. Warren Barguil, Team Sunweb
17. Pinot Thibaut, FDJ
18. Simon Yates, ORICA-Scott
23. Rigoberto Uran, Cannondale-Drapac
45. Hugh Carthy, Cannondale-Drapac

 

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