Winning return for Giulio Ciccone ! More than two months after his fall and abandonment on the Italian Tourthe Italian raised his arms and found a smile as soon as he race, offering the Clasica San Sebastian After a big number. Outstanded in the strong withIsaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) in the rise of Eritz more than 40 km from the finish, the climber of the Lidl-Trek Then flew to the terrible slopes of wall of Murgile-Tontorra, distance Mexican and its cooperative Jan Christenreturned as a bullet from the back. And at the end of a beautiful showdown in the final with the young Swiss, Ciccone was finally able to savor his victory in the streets of San Sebastián, where he won his first success on a classic WorldTour. Christen failed at 9 seconds, while Maxim van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) came to settle the group of pursuers to the last place on the podium.
Video – Primoz Roglic before the Clasica San Sebastian this Saturday
The French in the second curtain
The Belgian was faster than his compatriot Tiesj Benoot (Visma | Lease a Bike), Isaac del Toro Before being satisfied with 5th place after suffering in the last kilometers. Neilson Powless (EF Education-Easypost) and Luke Plapp (Team Jayco-Alula) Close the walk in this group, the Australian signing a very good race after having anticipated the big battle of the favorites. A duo made up of Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana) and an encouraging Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | lease a bike) arrived 1'09 “later. Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) settled the sprint of “peloton” for 10th place, a group in which we find in particular the French Léo Bisiaux et Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale, 14th and 16th) and Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ, 15e).
The summary of the race
A large breakaway of 12 runners open the road to this 44th edition. But their advance is quite weak before entering the decisive part of the route, with less than 2 minutes apart on the peloton when tackling the last 70 kilometers. Then presents itself the first famous difficulty of the final, the Alto of Jazkibel (7.9km at 5.6%). This ascent allows French Jordan Labrosse (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) to distance her escaped companions and to go alone in a bar of honor devoted to failure. Behind, the peloton is still getting closer and accelerates in the short transition which leads to one of the big pieces of the day: the terrible climb ofLedge (3.8km at 10.6%), the summit of which culminates 42 km from the finish.
At the front, Luke Plapp (Team Jayco alula) finally resumes Labrossewhich he deposits from the first slopes. Primoz Roglic (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) does not wait and sets fire to the powder from the foot. Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) et Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon AG2R) at first try to follow the Slovenian, then Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) reacts, followed by Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek). The strongest emerges logically in these large percentages, the household is done. Five runners are in the lead as the summit approaches: Roglic et Maxim van Gils (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe), Christen et Of the bull (UAE) and Ciccone. But just before switching, Of the bull puts one and flies away with Ciccone in the wheel.
Giulio Ciccones too strong for the UAE Del Toro and Christen
The Mexican and the Italian seem the strongest and dig on their pursuers, a group of nine runners with Roglic, Christian, Van Gils, Bisiaux, Plapp, Powless, Benoot, Uijtdebroeks et Scaroni Pointed at 50 seconds once the descent is finished. The peloton is pushed back to 1'40 “. The head duo is now heading towards the wall of Murgil-Tontorra (2.1 km à 10.1%), final justice 8 km from the finish. But when we thought of mass said for the two in front, Jan Christen Come back like a ball in Murgil-Tontorra! The young Swiss even accelerates even directly once, but puts his teammate in difficulty Of the bull… et Ciccone against a short time after.
The Italian is the strongest in these terrible slopes and flies to victory. Christen crosses the summit 10 seconds late, while Of the bull was exceeded by Powless For 3rd place behind. Excellent descendeur, Ciccone Gives everything to get his first classic WorldTour. Despite a good resistance of Christenwhich keeps it under pressure and the online guarding of sight, Ciccone perfectly resists and wins this 44th solo Clasica San Sebastian !
