Last year Greg Van Avermaet lost the race when he collided with a television bike on the steep Bordako Tontorra. He was leading the race, while Adam Yates took over to power on to the victory.
As the Clásica San Sebastián closes with a drop good descenders enjoy an advantage. In 2014 Valverde got clear attacked in the descent of the Bordako Tontorra to take his second win since 2008. On that score Jarlinson Pantano could be up for a surprise. He did win stage 15 in the 2016 Tour de France because he outperformed his fellow-escapees in the downhill sections.
Good descending skills may be favourable, yet you have to be a good climber to start with. Traditionally the Basque Country is teeming with steep climbs. In the last editions the decision came on the Bordako Tontorra, a 2.5 kilometres climb with an average gradient at 9%. This time the finale is played out at the Murgil Tontora, a 1.8 kilometres climb at 10.8 %. At the top it’s 7.9 kilometres to the finish line, mainly a plunge down.
Favourites Clásica de San Sebastián
*** Bauke Mollema, Adam Yates, Alejandro Valverde, Greg Van Avermaet, Julian Alaphilippe
** Simon Yates, Ion Izagirre, Daniel Martin, Steven Kruijswijk, Tony Gallopin, Jarlinson Pantano
* Rafal Majka, Philippe Gilbert, Richie Porte, Michal Kwiatkowski, Bob Jungels, Joaquim Rodriguez, Rigoberto Uran
Clásica de San Sebastián 2016: Route maps, height profiles, etc.
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Overview - Clásica de San Sebastián 2016 More articles Vuelta 2025: The Route
Vuelta 2025: Riders
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 1: Turin – Novara
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 2: Alba - Limone Piemonte
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 3: San Maurizio Canavese - Ceres
Vuelta a España: Winners and records
Tour de France 2025: The Route
Tour de France 2025: Riders
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 1: Lille - Lille
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 2: Lauwin-Planque - Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 3: Valenciennes - Dunkirk
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 4: Amiens - Rouen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 5: Caen - Caen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 7: Saint-Malo - Mûr-de-Bretagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 8: Saint-Méen-le-Grand - Laval
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 9: Chinon - Châteauroux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 10: Ennezat - Le Mont-Dore
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 11: Toulouse - Toulouse
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 12: Auch - Hautacam
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 13: Loudenvielle - Peyragudes
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 15: Muret - Carcassonne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 16: Montpellier - Mont Ventoux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 18: Vif - Col de la Loze
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 19: Albertville - La Plagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 20: Nantua - Pontarlier
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 21: Mantes-la-Ville - Paris
Cycling Calendar 2025
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 14: Pau - Superbagnères
Giro 2025: The Route Rumours
Giro 2025: Riders
Tour de France Femmes 2025: The Route
Tour de France Femmes 2025 Route stage 1: Vannes - Plumelec
Tour Down Under 2025: The Route