Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian: Stybar Top 10 on Parcours With New Climb

Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian: Stybar Top 10 on Parcours With New Climb

Despite a difficult new climb added to the final kilometers of 219.2km Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian on Saturday, Czech Champion Zdenek Stybar earned a 10th place finish in a small group that remained behind chasers that contested the podium.

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) won solo after dropping Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) with 3.1km to go. The pair had gone ahead of a group that included  Mikel Nieve (Team Sky), Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEDGE), and eventually also Bauke Mollema (Belkin). Valverde caught up to Rodriguez as they reached the summit of the final 2.5km, Category 2 Bordako Tontorra climb. This climb was added to the parcours for the 2014 edition. The climb averages 9 percent, but has very steep sections including two 100 meter sections of 20% gradient.

Mollema finished 2nd behind Valverde, and Rodriguez was 3rd.

Jan Bakelants entered a breakaway of about seven riders that was caught with about 30km to go in the stage.

The parcours was difficult enough where several riders abandoned, including Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team). The peloton finished in small groups.