2016 Clásica de San Sebastián (World Tour), Spain
36th edition: Saturday, July 30, 2016
Classica San Sebastian podium history | 2015 edition | 2017 edition | Race profile | Photos | Start list
Donostia - Donostia (Basque for the city of San Sebastián), 220.2 km
Bauke Mollema wins San Sebastian in style.
The Race: Here's the report from winner Bauke Mollema's Trek-Segafredo team.
Bauke Mollema rebounded from the bitter disappointment one week ago when crashes ruined his podium chances at the Tour de France by soloing to his biggest, and first, WorldTour win in Clasica San Sebastian Saturday.
"The last days of the Tour de France were really disappointing for me, and this was a good way to fight back," said Mollema. "I recovered well from the Tour, and I am really happy to win, I have always loved this race and finished in the top 10. This is the first WorldTour classic I have won; I have always wanted to be on the podium of this race and have one of those Basque hats, and now I finally have one."
The World Tour Classic, a 220-kilometer run through the Basque hills, all came down to the last, steep climb where four riders emerged at the top of the 1.8-kilometer ascent with gradients exceeding 20 percent: Mollema, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).
Mollema, knowing he didn't stand a chance if it came to a sprint, caught the other three by surprise by launching an immediate attack with just over eight kilometers to go.
Mollema's advantage hovered around 10 seconds as the kilometers ticked away, and with three kilometers remaining it appeared the trio were about to tag him back. But no one wanted to make the last effort to close the gap, and his advantage grew again. Under the flamme rouge Mollema had 15 seconds, and in the final meters enough time to sit up and savor his first World Tour victory.
"Yesterday in training I did the last climb twice and three times the descent, so I knew what was coming," continued Mollema. "I was a few places behind when Rodriguez went, and it was a narrow climb, so it was difficult to pass the other riders. But I felt quite good and knew that I could close the gap in the last few hundred meters of the climb. On the top, we were four and Rodriguez slowed down a little bit, and I think that was the perfect time to go.
"I just wanted to try something, and it was a good moment for an attack, it was still 500 meters flat at the top. I tried and saw I had a gap and then it was just full gas until the finish. I think with two kilometers more or less I knew I had it. I still felt I had some power in the legs, so I was not going to blow up, and when I looked back, I didn't see the second group. I felt I could keep it until the finish – it was a nice feeling, especially in the last few hundred meters."
Gallopin won the sprint for second place ahead of Valverde, while Rodriguez missed the podium and settled for fourth.
There was perhaps no better way for Mollema to stamp out the disappointment of the Tour than with a sweet victory in a race he has always held in esteem. Mollema next heads to Brazil for the Rio Olympics, a course that suits the on-form climber.
Mollema: "I did not think about the Tour anymore today - I always like this race and I found the focus again this week and knew it was a good opportunity for me to make a good result. I think I showed I am in good form, this is a great result, and now the Olympics are coming and that is something I am really looking forward to."
Complete Results:
220.2 kilometers raced at an average speed of 39.915 km/hr
1 | Mollema, Bauke | Trek-Segafredo | 5hr 31min 00sec |
2 | Gallopin, Tony | Lotto-Soudal | @ 17sec |
3 | Valverde, Alejandro | Movistar | s.t. |
4 | Rodríguez, Joaquim | Katusha | + 00' 22'' |
5 | Van Avermaet, Greg | BMC | + 00' 34'' |
6 | Brambilla, Gianluca | Etixx-Quick Step | s.t. |
7 | Yates, Simon | Orica-BikeExchange | s.t. |
8 | Slagter, Tom-Jelte | Cannondale-Drapac | s.t. |
9 | Roche, Nicolas | Sky | s.t. |
10 | Devenyns, Dries | IAM Cycling | + 00' 37'' |
11 | Roux, Anthony | FDJ | + 00' 50'' |
12 | Martin, Daniel | Etixx-Quick Step | s.t. |
13 | Wellens, Tim | Lotto-Soudal | s.t. |
14 | Hermans, Ben | BMC | s.t. |
15 | Bennett, George | LottoNL-Jumbo | s.t. |
16 | Yates, Adam | Orica-BikeExchange | s.t. |
17 | Sánchez, Luis León | Astana | s.t. |
18 | Zubeldia, Haimar | Trek-Segafredo | s.t. |
19 | Izagirre, Ion | Movistar | s.t. |
20 | Edet, Nicolas | Cofidis | s.t. |
21 | Vanendert, Jelle | Lotto-Soudal | s.t. |
22 | Kreuziger, Roman | Tinkoff | s.t. |
23 | Pantano, Jarlinson | IAM Cycling | s.t. |
24 | Nieve, Mikel | Sky | s.t. |
25 | Urán, Rigoberto | Cannondale-Drapac | + 00' 54'' |
26 | Serry, Pieter | Etixx-Quick Step | + 01' 02'' |
27 | Pauwels, Serge | Dimension Data | s.t. |
28 | Štybar, Zdenek | Etixx-Quick Step | s.t. |
29 | Kruijswijk, Steven | LottoNL-Jumbo | s.t. |
30 | Grivko, Andrei | Astana | + 01' 17'' |
31 | Battaglin, Enrico | LottoNL-Jumbo | + 01' 26'' |
32 | Madrazo, Ángel | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | s.t. |
33 | Oomen, Sam | Giant-Alpecin | s.t. |
34 | Chernetski, Sergei | Katusha | + 01' 28'' |
35 | Vakoc, Petr | Etixx-Quick Step | s.t. |
36 | Frank, Mathias | IAM Cycling | + 01' 29'' |
37 | Gautier, Cyril | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. |
38 | Naesen, Oliver | IAM Cycling | + 01' 54'' |
39 | Contador, Alberto | Tinkoff | s.t. |
40 | Siutsou, Kanstantsin | Dimension Data | s.t. |
41 | De Plus, Laurens | Etixx-Quick Step | s.t. |
42 | Visconti, Giovanni | Movistar | s.t. |
43 | Ulissi, Diego | Lampre-Merida | + 02' 36'' |
44 | Petilli, Simone | Lampre-Merida | s.t. |
45 | Kennaugh, Peter | Sky | s.t. |
46 | Bilbao, Pello | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | s.t. |
47 | Maté, Luis Angel | Cofidis | s.t. |
48 | Elissonde, Kenny | FDJ | s.t. |
49 | Zaugg, Oliver | IAM Cycling | s.t. |
50 | Silin, Egor | Katusha | s.t. |
51 | De Marchi, Alessandro | BMC | s.t. |
52 | Rossetto, Stéphane | Cofidis | s.t. |
53 | Molard, Rudy | Cofidis | s.t. |
54 | Barguil, Warren | Giant-Alpecin | s.t. |
55 | Zakarin, Ilnur | Katusha | s.t. |
56 | Kelderman, Wilco | LottoNL-Jumbo | s.t. |
57 | Formolo, Davide | Cannondale-Drapac | s.t. |
58 | Gilbert, Philippe | BMC | + 03' 48'' |
59 | Clarke, Simon | Cannondale-Drapac | s.t. |
60 | Zeits, Andrey | Astana | s.t. |
61 | Woods, Michael | Cannondale-Drapac | s.t. |
62 | Cataldo, Dario | Astana | s.t. |
63 | Antón, Igor | Dimension Data | s.t. |
64 | Pardilla, Sergio | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | s.t. |
65 | Péraud, Jean-Christophe | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. |
66 | De La Cruz, David | Etixx-Quick Step | s.t. |
67 | Landa, Mikel | Sky | s.t. |
68 | Tiralongo, Paolo | Astana | s.t. |
69 | Impey, Daryl | Orica-BikeExchange | s.t. |
70 | Albasini, Michael | Orica-BikeExchange | s.t. |
71 | Latour, Pierre-Roger | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 04' 13'' |
72 | Machado, Tiago | Katusha | + 05' 24'' |
73 | Porte, Richie | BMC | s.t. |
74 | Houle, Hugo | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. |
75 | Domont, Axel | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. |
76 | Chevrier, Clément | IAM Cycling | s.t. |
77 | Koshevoy, Ilia | Lampre-Merida | s.t. |
78 | Vicioso, Ángel | Katusha | s.t. |
79 | Felline, Fabio | Trek-Segafredo | s.t. |
80 | Lagutin, Sergey | Katusha | s.t. |
81 | Rojas, José Joaquin | Movistar | + 06' 15'' |
82 | Izagirre, Gorka | Movistar | s.t. |
83 | Mori, Manuele | Lampre-Merida | + 06' 49'' |
84 | Jungels, Bob | Etixx-Quick Step | s.t. |
85 | Bono, Matteo | Lampre-Merida | s.t. |
86 | Villella, Davide | Cannondale-Drapac | s.t. |
87 | Sánchez, Samuel | BMC | + 09' 57'' |
88 | Arroyo, David | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | s.t. |
89 | Castroviejo, Jonathan | Movistar | s.t. |
90 | Carthy, Hugh | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | s.t. |
91 | Moser, Moreno | Cannondale-Drapac | s.t. |
92 | Durbridge, Luke | Orica-BikeExchange | + 10' 02'' |
93 | Juul-Jensen, Christopher | Orica-BikeExchange | s.t. |
94 | Haas, Nathan | Dimension Data | + 13' 26'' |
95 | Txurruka, Amets | Orica-BikeExchange | s.t. |
96 | Róson, Jaime | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | s.t. |
97 | Schär, Michael | BMC | s.t. |
98 | Vermeulen, Alexey | LottoNL-Jumbo | s.t. |
99 | Trofimov, Yuri | Tinkoff | s.t. |
100 | Kudus, Merhawi | Dimension Data | s.t. |
101 | Niyonshuti, Adrien | Dimension Data | s.t. |
102 | Rovny, Ivan | Tinkoff | s.t. |
103 | Golas, Michal | Sky | s.t. |
104 | Pineau, Cédric | FDJ | s.t. |
105 | Hernández, Jesús | Tinkoff | s.t. |
106 | Pibernik, Luka | Lampre-Merida | s.t. |
107 | Kwiatkowski, Michal | Sky | s.t. |
108 | Cherel, Mikaël | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. |
109 | Mas, Lluís | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | s.t. |
110 | Hesjedal, Ryder | Trek-Segafredo | s.t. |
111 | Irizar, Markel | Trek-Segafredo | s.t. |
112 | Janse van Rensburg, Jacques | Dimension Data | s.t. |
113 | López, David | Sky | s.t. |
2016 Clásica de San Sebastián photos by Fotoreporter Sirotti
Cannondale-Drapac is presented before the race start
Philippe Gilbert heads to the race start.
Bob Jungels
Alberto Contador waits for the race to begin. He finished about two minutes after winner Mollema.
The peloton races along the coast.
Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quick Step)
BMC with Ben Hermans and Greg van Avermaet
Bauke Mollema wins the race.
Another shot of Mollema's win
Tony Gallopin takes second just in front of a hidden Alejandro Valverde
Joaquin Rodriguez was fourth
Greg van Avermaet (BMC) was fifth
The podium, from left: Tony Gallopin (2nd), Bauke Mollema and Alejandro Valverde (3rd)
Start list with back numbers, July 29, 2016:
Orica Bike Exchange |
Manager: STEPHENS, Neil |
1. YATES, Adam; United Kingdom |
2. ALBASINI, Michael; Switzerland |
3. DURBRIDGE, Luke; Australia |
4. JUUL JENSEN, Christopher; Denmark |
5. IMPEY, Daryl; South Africa |
6. MEIER, Christian; Canada |
7. TXURRUKA, Amets; Spain |
8. YATES, Simon; United Kingdom |
Tinkoff |
Manager: VILA, Patxi |
11. CONTADOR, Alberto; Spain |
12. GATTO, Oscar; Italy |
13. PAULINHO, Sergio; Portugal |
14. HERNANDEZ, Jesus; Spain |
15. KREUZIGER, Roman; Czech Republic |
16. PETROV, Evgeny; Russia |
17. ROVNY, Ivan; Russia |
18. TROFIMOV, Yury; Russia |
Movistar Team |
Manager: ARRIETA, José Luis |
21. VALVERDE, Alejandro; Spain |
22. ERVITI, Imanol; Spain |
23. CASTROVIEJO, Jonathan; Spain |
24. VISCONTI, Giovanni; Italy |
25. IZAGIRRE, Gorka; Spain |
26. IZAGIRRE, Ion; Spain |
27. ROJAS, Jose Joaquin; Spain |
28. SUTHERLAND, Rory; Australia |
BMC Racing Team |
Manager: LEDANOIS, Yvon |
31. PORTE, Richie; Australia |
32. DE MARCHI, Alessandro; Italy |
33. GILBERT, Philippe; Belgium |
34. HERMANS, Ben; Belgium |
35. SANCHEZ, Samuel; Spain |
36. SCHÄR, Michael; Switzerland |
37. VAN AVERMAET, Greg; Belgium |
38. VELITS, Peter; Slovakia |
Team SKY |
Manager: CIONI, Dario |
41. LANDA, Mikel; Spain |
42. ZANDIO, Xabier; Spain |
43. KENNAUGH, Peter; United Kingdom |
44. GOLAS, Michal; Poland |
45. KWIATKOWSKI, Michal; Poland |
46. LOPEZ, David; Spain |
47. NIEVE, Mikel; Spain |
48. ROCHE, Nicolas; Ireland |
Etixx - Quick Step |
Manager: PETERS, Wilfried |
51. MARTIN, Daniel; Ireland |
52. DE LA CRUZ, David; Spain |
53. BRAMBILLA, Gianluca; Italy |
54. DE PLUS, Laurens; Belgium |
55. JUNGELS, Bob; Luxembourg |
56. SERRY, Pieter; Belgium |
57. STYBAR, Zdenek; Czech Republic |
58. VAKOC, Petr; Czech Republic |
Team Katusha |
Manager: FLORENCIO, Xavier |
61. RODRIGUEZ, Joaquim; Spain |
62. CHERNETSKIY, Sergei; Russia |
63. ZAKARIN, Ilnur; Russia |
64. LAGUTIN, Sergey; Uzbekistan |
65. MACHADO, Tiago; Portugal |
66. RESTREPO, Jhonatan; Colombia |
67. SILIN, Egor; Russia |
68. VICIOSO, Angel; Spain |
FDJ |
Manager: MADIOT, Marc |
71. VICHOT, Arthur; France |
72. ELISSONDE, Kenny; France |
73. GENIEZ, Alexandre; France |
74. LADAGNOUS, Mathieu; France |
75. VAUGRENARD, Benoit; France |
76. FISCHER, Murilo; Brazil |
77. ROUX, Anthony; France |
78. PINEAU, Cedric; France |
Astana Pro Team |
Manager: SHEFER, Alexandr |
81. SANCHEZ, Luis Leon; Spain |
82. GRIVKO, Andriy; Ukraine |
83. TIRALONGO, Paolo; Italy |
84. WESTRA, Lieuwe; Netherlands |
85. MALACARNE, Davide; Italy |
86. CAPECCHI, Eros; Italy |
87. CATALDO, Dario; Italy |
88. ZEITS, Andrey; Kazakhstan |
Team LottoNL - Jumbo |
Manager: ENGELS, Addy |
91. KRUIJSWIJK, Steven; Netherlands |
92. BATTAGLIN, Enrico; Italy |
93. BENNETT, George; New Zealand |
94. LAMMERTINK, Steven; Netherlands |
95. KELDERMAN, Wilco; Netherlands |
97. MARTENS, Paul; Germany |
98. VERMEULEN, Alexey; United States |
Lampre - Merida |
Manager: MARZANO, Marco |
101. ULISSI, Diego; Italy |
102. BONO, Matteo; Italy |
103. COSTA, Mario; Portugal |
104. KOSHEVOY, Ilia; Belarus |
105. MORI, Manuele; Italy |
106. NIEMIEC, Przemyslaw; Poland |
107. PIBERNIK, Luka; Slovenia |
108. PETILLI, Simone; Italy |
Trek-Segafredo |
Manager: LARRAZABAL, Josu |
111. MOLLEMA, Bauke; Netherlands |
112. DEVOLDER, Stijn; Belgium |
113. FELLINE, Fabio; Italy |
114. HESJEDAL, Ryder; Canada |
115. IRIZAR, Markel; Spain |
116. BEPPU, Fumiyuki; Japan |
117. COLEDAN, Marco; Italy |
118. ZUBELDIA, Haimar; Spain |
Team Giant - Alpecin |
Manager: VAN DONGEN, Arthur |
121. BARGUIL, Warren; France |
122. FRÖHLINGER, Johannes; Germany |
123. HAGA, Chad; United States |
125. OOMEN, Sam; Netherlands |
126. LUNKE, Sindre Skjøstad; Norway |
127. TEN DAM, Laurens; Netherlands |
128. WAEYTENS, Zico; Belgium |
Cannondale Drapac Team |
Manager: GARATE, Juan Manuel |
131. URAN, Rigoberto; Colombia |
132. CLARKE, Simon; Australia |
133. FORMOLO, Davide; Italy |
134. MOSER, Moreno; Italy |
135. MARANGONI, Alan; Italy |
136. SLAGTER, Tom Jelte; Netherlands |
137. VILLELLA, Davide; Italy |
138. WOODS, Michael; Canada |
Lotto Soudal |
Manager: WILLEMS, Frederik |
141. GALLOPIN, Tony; France |
142. BENOOT, Tiesj; Belgium |
143. DE BIE, Sean; Belgium |
144. LIGTHART, Pim; Netherlands |
145. VAN DER SANDE, Tosh; Belgium |
146. VERVAEKE, Louis; Belgium |
147. VANENDERT, Jelle; Belgium |
148. WELLENS, Tim; Belgium |
AG2R La Mondiale |
Manager: JANNEL, Didier |
151. PERAUD, Jean-Christophe; France |
152. BONNAFOND, Guillaume; France |
153. CHEREL, Mikael; France |
154. DOMONT, Axel; France |
155. GAUTIER, Cyril; France |
156. KADRI, Biel; France |
157. LATOUR, Pierre-Roger; France |
158. HOULE, Hugo; Canada |
IAM Cycling |
Manager: VERBRUGGHE, Rik |
161. FRANK, Mathias; Switzerland |
162. DEVENYNS, Dries; Belgium |
163. CHEVRIER, Clement; France |
164. LANG, Pirmin; Switzerland |
165. NAESEN, Oliver; Belgium |
166. PANTANO, Jarlinson; Colombia |
167. SARAMOTINS, Aleksejs; Latvia |
168. ZAUGG, Olivier; Switzerland |
Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka |
Manager: ZEMKE, Jens |
171. ANTON, Igor; Spain |
172. JIM, Songezo; South Africa |
173. PAUWELS, Serge; Belgium |
174. NIYONSHUTI, Adrien; Rwanda |
175. HAAS, Nathan; Australia |
176. JANSE VAN RENSBURG, Jacques; South Africa |
177. KUDUS, Merhawi; Eritrea |
178. SIUTSOU, Kanstantsin; Belarus |
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA |
Manager: GOICOECHEA, Eugenio |
181. ARROYO, David; Spain |
182. CARTHY, Hugh; United Kingdom |
183. BARBERO, Carlos; Spain |
184. BILBAO, Pello; Spain |
185. MADRAZO, Angel; Spain |
186. MAS, Lluis; Spain |
187. PARDILLA, Sergio; Spain |
188. ROSON, Jaime; Spain |
Cofidis Solutions Crèdits |
Manager: ROUS, Didier |
191. EDET, Nicolas; France |
192. BAGOT, Yoann; France |
193. CHETOUT, Loic; France |
194. JEANNESSON, Arnold; France |
195. MATE, Luis Angel; Spain |
196. MOLARD, Rudy; France |
197. ROSSETTO, Stephane; France |
198. TURGIS, Anthony; France |