Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa

Gelders in the break at Clasica San Sebastian

The 44th edition of Clasica San Sebastian – the only World Tour one-day race held in the Iberian Peninsula – took place on Saturday, when the peloton tackled a hilly 211km route comprising six climbs and almost 4000 vertical meters before the finish on the famous and picturesque Boulevard.

Gil Gelders, who recently extended his contract with Soudal Quick-Step until the end of 2027, was one of the day’s first attackers, booking a place in a strong 12-man breakaway that formed before the first difficulty of the race and put two minutes between them and the peloton. The Belgian had a solid ride in that group, which was reeled in only ahead of Erlaitz, the penultimate hill.

There, the pre-race favourites showed their intentions, launching a series of accelerations that split the bunch, leaving only two riders at the front, with a nine-man group trailing them by 45 seconds on the roads to Murgil-Tontorra, the hardest climb on the course. After an attack on its steep slopes, Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) took a solo victory in San Sebastian, while Gianmarco Garofoli finished as the first Soudal Quick-Step rider home.

Photo credit: ©Antonio Baixauli / Getty Images