Evenepoel overcomes ill-timed bike change to seal record San Sebastian win

Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) overcame an ill-timed bike change to win the Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa for a record-breaking fourth time. 

The Olympic champion started as the clear pre-race favourite, carrying momentum into the Basque Country following two stage wins and a runner-up finish at the Tour de France.

Evenepoel’s victory was hard-fought after he was forced into a bike change with 50km remaining, just before the brutal Erlaitz climb. 

After fighting his way back to the front selection, Evenepoel launched his decisive acceleration on the steep ramps of the Murgil climb inside the final 10km.

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), who also enjoyed a standout Tour de France with two stage victories and the polka-dot jersey, was the only rider capable of matching the Belgian's fierce pace. 

Defending champion Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) and Louis Barré (Visma | Lease a Bike) led the immediate chase on the fast run-in back to San Sebastián, hovering roughly 15 seconds behind the leading duo.

That gap proved insurmountable. Evenepoel and Carapaz successfully held off the pursuit to contest a two-up sprint to the line, where the Belgian ultimately out-kicked his rival to take the win. Ben Tulett (Visma | Lease a Bike) won the sprint for third after Barré and Ciccone were caught by a chasing group.

With the victory, Evenepoel maintains a flawless 100% win rate at the Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa, eclipsing Marino Lejarreta to stand alone as the race's only four-time winner.

An eight-rider breakaway formed early, containing Joan Bou (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Lorenzo Quartucci (Burgos Burpellet BH), Valentin Ferron (Cofidis), Nicolás Alustiza (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Iñigo Elosegui (Equipo Kern Pharma), Ådne Holter (Uno-X Mobility), Tim Rex (Visma | Lease a Bike), and Nickolas Zukowsky (Pinarello-Q36.5).

The race dynamics shifted on the Jaizkibel climb with 70km remaining. As the breakaway fractured, UAE Team Emirates-XRG increased the pace in the peloton. Rex and Quartucci pushed clear at the front while the rest of the breakaway was caught.

A counter-move featuring Bart Lemmen (Visma | Lease a Bike), Michael Leonard (EF Education-EasyPost), and Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost) went clear. This trio joined the leading duo alongside Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), who also bridged across.

Evenepoel suffered an ill-timed bike change with 50km remaining, just before the Erlaitz climb. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) dropped back from the peloton to pace him back into the race.

Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) attacked on the Erlaitz with 45.5km remaining, stretching the peloton. Evenepoel chased through riders dropping off the back of the bunch. Louis Barre (Visma | Lease a Bike) countered Christen and was joined by Paul Double (Jayco AlUla) before more riders bridged across.

Over the crest of the climb, Evenepoel trailed the leading 10-rider group by nearly 40 seconds. This front selection included Leo Bisiaux, Felix Gall, Barre, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike), Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek), Double, Enric Mas (Movistar), Mathys Rondel (Tudor), and Van Gils.

Tactical hesitation and stop-start attacks in the front group allowed the chasing pack to close the distance. Evenepoel pulled a large chasing group back to the front of the race, making the junction with 34km remaining.

Once the catch was made, Evenepoel and Red Bull hit the front to set a high tempo. UAE Team Emirates-XRG then led the leading group through the finish line for the penultimate time with 17km remaining, maintaining five riders at the front of the race.

UAE continued to ramp up the pace into the foot of the Murgill climb, before Van Gils took the lead with Evenepoel on his wheel. Evenepoel accelerated as the Murgill ramped up for the final time, with Carapaz locked on his wheel as the two Tour stars pulled clear of the rest to contest the victory.