Michal Kwiatkowski wins Clasica San Sebastian
Jul 29 2017 11:44 pm CET
Photo of Michal Kwiatkowski by George Solomon (Team Sky)
Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) has won the Clasica San Sebastian. The Polish rider was the better sprinter in a strong group of five, crossing the finish line ahead of Tony Gallopin and Bauke Mollema.
The route of the race, also known as the Klasikoa, was the longest in the last four years with a route of 231 kilometres. It was a pleasant sunny day in the Basque country with a temperature that fluctuated between 25 and 27 degrees.
An escape group of seven was formed during the first ten kilometres. Sven Erik Bystrom (Katusha-Alpecin), Loïc Chetout (Cofidis), Jon Insausti (Bahrain-Merida), Mickael Delage (FDJ), Imanol Erviti (Movistar), Christoph Pfingsten (Bora-hansgrohe) and Mathias Le Turnier (Cofidis), managed to get a lead of more than three minutes over the peloton.
The ascent to the Puerto de Arkale broke the front group and left Erviti alone heading the race. He was soon caught by Le Turnier, and the duo was reeled back in by a peloton led by Team Sky moments after.
Some kilometres later, a group of 17 riders went ahead but the peloton was determined to restore the balance. Riders of Sky, Quick-Step Floors, BMC, and Cofidis were among those in that front group.
At 25 kilometres from the finish line, Gianni Moscon (Team Sky) attacked and went solo, leaving the rest of the escapees to be caught by the pack. The Italian was eventually caught just past the 10 kilometres mark, during the ascent of the Murgil Tontorra.
Race favourites like Mikel Landa and Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky), Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal), Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) and Bauke Mollema showed their strengths on the last climb. The five arrived together to the final kilometre and the Polish former world champion showed to be the best sprinter.
Gallopin crossed the line in second place and the winner of last year's edition, Mollema, was third.
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