Clásica de San Sebastián 2024: Hirschi bests Alaphilippe in two-up sprint

foto: Cor VosJulian Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi reach the summit of the steep Pilotegi together. Lennert Van Eetvelt crests the summit in third position, but the young Belgian is distanced in the descent. The race comes down to a two-up sprint, with Hirschi taking the spoils. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2024 Clásica de San Sebastián

1. Marc Hirschi (swi)
2. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
3. Lennert Van Eetvelt (bel) + 0.07
4. Kevin Vermaerke (usa) + 0.17
5. Jhonatan Narváez (ecu) + 0.25
6. Neilson Powless (usa) s.t.
7. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
8. Michael Woods (can) s.t.
9. Jan Christen (swi) + 0.36
10. Brandon McNulty (usa) + 0.37

Race report
Alexy Faure Prost and Tobias Bayer are the first attackers, but Axel Laurance is the first to open up a gap. Alan Jousseaume rejoins him on the Alto de Andazarrate.

They don’t receive much leeway, and then it’s up to a group of ten riders. Simon Carr, Warren Barguil, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier, Sylvain Moniquet, Davide de Pretto, Jesús Herrada, Ben Zwiehoff, Thibault Guernalec, Ådne Holter, and Pierre Latour race to a lead of over 4 minutes.

The lead group disintegrates on the Jaizkibel. Carr crests the climb in first position, 1.30 minutes ahead of the peloton.

Carr is caught on the Erlaitz, and Julian Alaphilippe and Florian Lipowitz go on the counter-attacks. Pavel Sivakov takes the place of the young German.

Sivakov reaches the summit with a 20 seconds lead over Marc Hirschi, Brandon McNulty, Kevin Vermaerke, Andreas Kron, Lennert Van Eetvelt, Michael Woods, Jhonatan Narváez, and Julian Alaphilippe. Moments later, George Bennett, Maxim Van Gils, Jan Christen, Isaac del Toro, Neilson Powless, Clément Berthet, Patrick Konrad, Pablo Castrillo, Florian Lipowitz, and Jefferson Cepeda make it across.

Alaphilippe accelerates early on the Pilotegi, and Sivakov is caught. Konrad, McNulty, Hirschi, and Narváez follow Alaphilippe’s move. Woods, Vermaerke, and Van Eetvelt rejoin the front, but eventually Alaphilippe and Hirschi reach the summit together. Van Eetvelt is close behind, yet too far away.

Hirschi and Alaphilippe take turns in the finale before the Swiss rider opens the sprint. Alaphilippe is not able to get back to him, so Hirschi takes the spoils.

Other interesting reads: route and start list 2024 Clásica de San Sebastián.