Kwiatkowski wins Clasica San Sebastian

Sky's Michal Kwiatkowski sprinted to victory in Saturday's Clasica San Sebastian, proving quickest to the line out of a select group of late escapees in the hilly one-day race. Lotto Soudal's Tony Gallopin was second across the line for runner-up honours, with last year's winner Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) rounding out the podium in third.

Kwiatkowski's teammate Mikel Landa forced a crucial selection going over the short but steep final climb, attacking and pulling Gallopin and Mollema with him to form a select trio in the closing kilometres. Kwiatkowski joined up with Sunweb's Tom Dumoulin to bridge across to the group, setting up a five-rider battle in San Sebastian.

A late surge by Landa allowed Kwiatkowski to follow the wheels of his rivals into the final kilometre, paving the way for a sprint as the quintet regrouped. Kwiatkowski won convincingly, taking his third WorldTour one-day race victory of the season after winning Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo in the spring.

"Such amazing Basque Spanish guys in the team today," Kwiatkowski said after the finish, acknowledging not only Landa, but also Mikel Nieve, who fired off an attack with around nine kilometres to go just after a solo move by teammate Gianni Moscon was reeled in.

"They were supporting me so well and I'm very thankful to the team. You could see Mikel Landa playing his crucial role in the end, and I could go for the sprint easily. I'm very thankful to Mikel that he waited in the group in the front. Today was just amazing, the team spirit, we believed that we could win the race."

How it unfolded

The lumpy 231km race kicked off under clear conditions in San Sebastian, with a seven-rider escape going clear early. Loïc Chetout and Matthias Le Turnier (Cofidis), Sven Erik Bystrom (Katusha-Alpecin), Jon Insausti (Bahran-Merida), Mickaël Delage (FDJ), Imanol Erviti (Movistar) and Christophe Pfingsten (Bora-Hansgrohe) formed the main break of the day.

As the riders scaled the Meaga, Iturburu and Alkiza climbs, the pack allowed the break to push the gap up to a maximum of five minutes before it stabilised at around four and a half minutes. The advantage remained there or thereabouts through the midway point of the race before it began to fall rapidly on the first of two circuits taking on the Jaizkibel and Arkale climbs.

The gap was down around two minutes with 70 kilometres to go, spurring Erviti to solo away. Before long, his six former breakaway companions were swept up. The Spaniard made it up and over the second ascent of the Jaizkibel but was reeled in before the second passage of the Arkale climb.

The short but challenging Arkale saw splits opening in the peloton, and Moscon found himself well-placed in a small group off the front with around 25 kilometres to go. He seized the opportunity to solo clear, jumping out to an advantage of half a minute before the pack gradually pulled him back, making the catch with 10 kilometres to race.

Sky did not let up, with Nieve jumping away almost immediately. He too was brought back as the Iturba loomed.

The steep ascent quickly strung out the peloton, opening the door for Landa to shoot off the front. Only Gallopin and Mollema could follow. The trio opened a gap going over the top with Kwiatkowski and Dumoulin coming together in pursuit as the likes of Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing), Simon Yates (Orica-Scott), Warren Barguil (Team Sunweb) and Rigoberto Urán (Cannondale-Drapac) found themselves distanced in a larger group of around 20 riders.

With his fast-finishing teammate attempting to bridge, Landa eased off the throttle in the lead trio, and three became five with around five kilometres left to chase.

The five leaders raced into San Sebastian more or less together before Landa put in his final dig, drawing out a response from Dumoulin but opening a gap to the other three. Mollema took up the job of closing down the move, allowing Kwiatkowski to sit at the back.

The 27-year-old Pole pulled into position for a sprint as the reorganised quintet hit the final kilometre. He quickly surged away in the final kick with Gallopin and Mollema settling for podium spots.

"It was a perfect day. We took control from the beginning, we took the responsibility of chasing the breakaway. We believed from before the start that we could win today. It's really nice race. I don't have really good experience from the past from San Sebastian but it's always a pleasure to race here," Kwiatkowski said.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky5:52:53
2Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto SoudalRow 1 - Cell 2
3Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-SegafredoRow 2 - Cell 2
4Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team SunwebRow 3 - Cell 2
5Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky0:00:02
6Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac0:00:28
7Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ0:00:38
8Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 8 - Cell 2
10Nicolas Roche (Irl) BMC Racing TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 10 - Cell 2
12Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 11 - Cell 2
13Warren Barguil (Fra) Team SunwebRow 12 - Cell 2
14Sergei Chernetski (Rus) Astana Pro TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 14 - Cell 2
16Sergio Henao (Col) Team SkyRow 15 - Cell 2
17Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJRow 16 - Cell 2
18Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-ScottRow 17 - Cell 2
19Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 18 - Cell 2
20Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team EmiratesRow 19 - Cell 2
21Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 20 - Cell 2
22Mikel Nieve (Spa) Team SkyRow 21 - Cell 2
23Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-DrapacRow 22 - Cell 2
24Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Bahrain-Merida0:01:21
25Daniel Moreno (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Quick-Step FloorsRow 25 - Cell 2
27Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension DataRow 26 - Cell 2
28Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 27 - Cell 2
29Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Trek-Segafredo0:01:32
30Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 29 - Cell 2
31Ruben Fernandez (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
32George Bennett (NZl) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 31 - Cell 2
33Mathias Frank (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale0:02:12
34Kristijan Durasek (Cro) UAE Team EmiratesRow 33 - Cell 2
35Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-ScottRow 34 - Cell 2
36Nikita Stalnov (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 35 - Cell 2
37Igor Anton (Spa) Dimension DataRow 36 - Cell 2
38Jose Herrada (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Katusha-AlpecinRow 38 - Cell 2
40Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 39 - Cell 2
41Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:02:57
42Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 41 - Cell 2
43Pieter Serry (Bel) Quick-Step Floors0:03:38
44Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto SoudalRow 43 - Cell 2
45Hugh Carthy (GBr) Cannondale-DrapacRow 44 - Cell 2
46Sergio Pardilla (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 45 - Cell 2
47Clement Chevrier (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 46 - Cell 2
48Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:04:48
50Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Team SunwebRow 49 - Cell 2
51Nathan Brown (USA) Cannondale-DrapacRow 50 - Cell 2
52Victor De La Parte (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky0:04:53
54Javier Moreno (Spa) Bahrain-Merida0:05:44
55Ion Insausti (Spa) Bahrain-Merida0:06:00
56Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar Team0:06:24
57Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Quick-Step FloorsRow 56 - Cell 2
58Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates0:06:41
59Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Sunweb0:08:21
60Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 59 - Cell 2
61Amael Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamRow 60 - Cell 2
62Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 61 - Cell 2
63Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Orica-Scott0:08:27
64Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJRow 63 - Cell 2
64Merhawi Kudus (Eri) Dimension Data0:11:01
65Alexey Vermeulen (USA) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 65 - Cell 2
66Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Katusha-AlpecinRow 66 - Cell 2
67Ivan Garcia (Spa) Bahrain-Merida0:11:48
68Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension DataRow 68 - Cell 2
69Ben King (USA) Dimension DataRow 69 - Cell 2
70Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) Bahrain-MeridaRow 70 - Cell 2
71Edward Ravasi (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 71 - Cell 2
72Simone Petilli (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 72 - Cell 2
73Lachlan Morton (Aus) Dimension DataRow 73 - Cell 2
74Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-ScottRow 74 - Cell 2
75Jay McCarthy (Aus) Bora-HansgroheRow 75 - Cell 2
76Enric Mas (Spa) Quick-Step FloorsRow 76 - Cell 2
77Markel Irizar (Spa) Trek-SegafredoRow 77 - Cell 2
78Artyom Zakharov (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 78 - Cell 2
79Carlos Verona (Spa) Orica-ScottRow 79 - Cell 2
80Lennard Hofstede (Ned) Team SunwebRow 80 - Cell 2
81Loic Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:12:23
82David Arroyo (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:13:19
83Yoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 83 - Cell 2
84Chris Hamilton (Aus) Team Sunweb0:15:34
85Jaime Roson (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:19:56
DNFEugenio Alafaci (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Didier (Lux) Trek-SegafredoRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFFabio Felline (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Gogl (Aut) Trek-SegafredoRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFGiacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFCyril Gautier (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandre Geniez (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFQuentin Jauregui (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFPello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFZhandos Bizhigitov (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFJesper Hansen (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFMiguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro TeamRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFPaolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFYukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Bahrain-MeridaRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFLuka Pibernik (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFManuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFFrancisco Ventoso (Spa) BMC Racing TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFDanilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFLeopold Konig (Cze) Bora-HansgroheRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFSilvio Herklotz (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFJosé Mendes (Por) Bora-HansgroheRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFChristoph Pfingsten (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFLukas Pöstlberger (Aut) Bora-HansgroheRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFJuraj Sagan (Svk) Bora-HansgroheRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFLuis Mas (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 111 - Cell 2
DNFEduard Prades (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 112 - Cell 2
DNFRafael Reis (Por) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 113 - Cell 2
DNFHector Saez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 114 - Cell 2
DNFNicholas Schultz (Aus) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 115 - Cell 2
DNFBrendan Canty (Aus) Cannondale-DrapacRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFSimon Clarke (Aus) Cannondale-DrapacRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFAndrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale-DrapacRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFWouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale-DrapacRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFJerome Cousin (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFMathias Leturnier (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFDavide Cimolai (Ita) FDJRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFMatthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFCedric Pineau (Fra) FDJRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFLéo Vincent (Fra) FDJRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFSean De Bie (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFRemy Mertz (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFTim Wellens (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFHéctor Carretero (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFImanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Albasini (Swi) Orica-ScottRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFChristopher Juul Jensen (Den) Orica-ScottRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFSvein Tuft (Can) Orica-ScottRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFPhilippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFEros Capecchi (Ita) Quick-Step FloorsRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFDavid De La Cruz (Spa) Quick-Step FloorsRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFJaco Venter (RSA) Dimension DataRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFOmar Fraile (Spa) Dimension DataRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFJenthe Biermans (Bel) Katusha-AlpecinRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFViacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Katusha-AlpecinRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFTiago Machado (Por) Katusha-AlpecinRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Mathis (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFRein Taaramäe (Est) Katusha-AlpecinRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFÁngel Vicioso (Spa) Katusha-AlpecinRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFSteven Lammertink (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFJuan Jose Lobato (Spa) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFTimo Roosen (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFBram Tankink (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFJurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFPhilip Deignan (Irl) Team SkyRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFBeñat Intxausti (Spa) Team SkyRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Lopez (Spa) Team SkyRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFGeorg Preidler (Aut) Team SunwebRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFZico Waeytens (Bel) Team SunwebRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Bono (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFYousif Mirza Alhammadi (UAE) UAE Team EmiratesRow 158 - Cell 2

Dane has been a sports writer and editor for many years, and makes a return to Cyclingnews as a contributor in 2022. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia.

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