Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa 2025

Results

Clásica San Sebastián: Attack on final climb nets Giulio Ciccone solo victory

After surviving an onslaught of attacks on the final climbs, Giulio Ciccone emerged as the strongest rider on the day with an incredible move to go solo on the final climb of Murgil-Tontorra to win the Clásica San Sebastián.

Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) finished second and Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) was third in the one-day WorldTour race.

Donostia San Sebastián Klasikoa 2025 information

The 44th edition of the Donostia San Sebastián Klasiko, known as the Clásica San Sebastián in Spanish, takes place on Saturday August 2, 2025, marking a crossroads in the racing season as some riders end a summer campaign after racing the Tour de France and others intensify their racing with the one-day WorldTour race.

Isaac Del Toro and Juan Ayuso lead the UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad and the on-form 21-year-old Mexican is arguably the favourite for victory after his return to form.

Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is a late addition to the entry list after his strong finish at the Tour de France. Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL) is also racing after his fourth place overall and could be a contender if he has recovered from his efforts.

Around 15% of the San Sebastián field also rode the Tour de France with Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek), 2024 winner Marc Hirschi (Tudor Pro Cycling), Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) and Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) also contenders for the hilly race in the Basque County.

2021 winner Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) is a perfect outsider after suffering through the Tour. Giulio Ciccone returns to racing after his injuries at the Giro d'Italia and will be part of a strong Lidl-Trek line-up.

Last year Hirschi outsprinted Julian Alaphilippe to win the Donostia San Sebastián Klasikoa, the duo escaping on the final climb of Pilotegi, a new climb added to the 2024 Basque race.

Remco Evenepoel has won three times in 2019, 2022, 2023, and holds the record for most wins alongside Marino Lejarreta. Other big-name winners include Philippe Gilbert, Paolo Bettini, Davide Rebellin and Alaphilippe.

Evenepoel and Alaphilippe are both absent this year due to illness and the fatigue of the Tour de France, offering a huge opportunity for the likes of Del Toro or whoever emerged strong from the Tour to triumph.

As per tradition, the winner of the Donostia San Sebastián Klasiko will be awarded a special Basque txapela beret.

Donostia San Sebastián Klasikoa 2025 route

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The one-day Spanish WorldTour race was first held in 1981 and still starts and finishes overlooking San Sebastián sandy beaches. The 211km route includes a series of classic steep Basque climbs.

There are six categorised climbs this year, with a total of 4150 metres of elevation gain.

The climbs of Jaizkibel and Erlaitz will surely shape the race, before final attacks are launched on the steep ascent of Murgil-Tontorra (2km at 9.6%) with less than 10km to go. If a small group stays together, they will sprint for victory on the Boulevard Donostia, near where the Tour de France stage finished in 2023 when Victor Lafay attacked late to hold off Wout Van Aert.

The early climbs always spark a selection with the Jaizkibel (7.9 km at 5.5%) now coming after 140km.

It is followed by the steep Erlaitz (3.9 km at 10.6%) that ends with 40km to race. A long descent leads the riders for the final climb, the Murgil Tontorra (2 km at 9.6%), which returns after an absence in 2024. The final kilometre is at 14% and the finish less than 10km away. This is the place were solo attacks will be made and the cheering Basque fans at their thickest.

Donostia San Sebastián Klasikoa 2025 teams

• Alpecin-Deceuninck
• Arkéa-B&B Hotels
• Bahrain Victorious
• Burgos Burpellet BH
• Caja Rural-Seguros RGZ
• Cofids
• Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
• EF Education-EasyPost
• Equipo Kern Pharma
• Euskaltel-Euskadi
• Groupama-FDJ
• Ineos Grenadiers
• Intermarché-Wanty
• Lidl-Trek
• Movistar
• Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
• Soudal-QuickStep
• Team Jayco-AlUla
• Team Picnic-PostNL
• Team Visma-Lease a Bike
• Tudor Pro Cycling
• UAE Team Emirates-XRG
• Uno-X Mobility
• XDS Astana

Donostia San Sebastián Klasikoa 2025 start list

Start list provided by FirstCycling