Evenepoel returns this Saturday in the Clásica de San Sebastián

Cycling at the highest level does not stop. Just after the end of the Tour de France, we have here another of the reference tests on the World Tour calendar. The Clásica de San Sebastián will take place next Saturday, August 2nd, with a lineup of true luxury, highlighting the return to competition of Remco Evenepoel after his abandonment in the Tour de France and having spent several days sick. A return that comes amid speculation about his still unconfirmed signing by Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.

First-class lineup. Favorites to win the Clásica de San Sebastián 2025

Along with the Vuelta a Burgos, which will take place next week, the Clásica de San Sebastián has become in recent years the perfect bridge between the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. A long and demanding test that allows a great test for those who have their sights set on the Spanish tour.

At the presentation of the event held yesterday, the announcement that Remco Evenepoel, winner of the race by crushing in 2019, 2022, and 2023, is on the list of entries to take part in it, was surprising. A surprise indeed after his premature abandonment of the Tour de France and knowing that he has spent several days sick with a fever. In any case, it is a race that perfectly suits the characteristics of the Belgian, so his presence would immediately place him among the favorites for victory.

RECOMENDADO

Pogacar joins the ranks of the cyclists with the most Grand Tours in history

Airlines prohibit traveling with eBikes, but there are some exceptions you should know

Eddy Merckx is clear: "Mathieu van der Poel is the only one who can challenge Pogacar"

"Everything was going well until I flew over the handlebars": that's how Schurter's fall that we didn't see in the European Championships happened

Why are cyclists able to endure more pain than other athletes?

Pogacar could be burned out: "I would be satisfied with what I have achieved"

Also taking part in the Soudal-QuickStep ranks will be Mikel Landa, who returns after his terrible crash in the Giro d'Italia where he fractured a vertebra.

The Clásica de San Sebastián also marks the reappearance of a disappeared rider, since his abandonment of the Giro d'Italia, of a Juan Ayuso who is aiming for the Vuelta a España after UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed the squad for this race, in which, finally, Tadej Pogacar will not take part. Not only will it be necessary to take into account, within the UAE Team Emirates-XRG lineup, Ayuso for the victory on the boulevard of Donosti, but also a motivated Isaac del Toro who won the Terres de l'Ebre classic a few days ago and granted victory to his teammate Igor Arrieta in the Clásica de Ordicia.

We must also pay attention to what a Lidl-Trek team can offer, with the return of Mattias Skjelmose after the brutal crash he suffered in the Tour de France after hitting a traffic island head-on. The Dane will be supported by the best domestique of the French tour, the American Quinn Simmons, who will surely find the opportunity for personal glory in this Clásica de San Sebastián.

Although it is a Pro Tour team, the presence of Tudor must be taken into account, aligning a hungry Julian AlaphilippeMarc Hirschi, who, let's not forget, was the winner last year.

And speaking of Pro Tour teams, we cannot fail to mention Uno-X Mobility, which aligns the brothers Tobias and Anders Halland-Johannessen as key riders for this Clásica de San Sebastián, and who will surely be seen in search of victory in the Guipuzcoan race.

Route of the Clásica de San Sebastián 2025

211 kilometers, starting and finishing in San Sebastián, with the typical medium mountain terrain of the Basque Country marking the route of a Clásica de San Sebastián that continues to bet on the same design as in recent years.

An initial part through the province with a loop covering the first 132 kilometers of the race in which cyclists will face the climbs of Andazarrate, Urraki, and Alkiza before passing by what will later be the finish line.

After this, the decisive part of the race begins with the peloton heading towards Pasaia to face the iconic climb to Mount Jaizkibel, a point where the first major selection of the race is usually made and which serves to weaken the riders before the tough ascent to Erlaizt where, in some of the last editions, the winning move has come out. If this does not happen, it will be the brutal wall of Murgil Tortorra, a climb that returns after not being included in the 2024 edition, with its 2.1 km at over 10% gradient measuring the judge of this Clásica de San Sebastián.

How to watch the Clásica de San Sebastián 2025

As usual, both RTVE and Eurosport will cover the Clásica de San Sebastián. However, the overlap with the queen stage of the women's Tour de France means that Eurosport will only broadcast the race through its HBO Max platform between 15:00 and 17:15. RTVE also faces the same issue and has not yet scheduled the Clásica de San Sebastián on its lineup, so it may only be available to watch through the online platform RTVE Play.

Obviously, residents of the Basque Country and Navarra can opt for the regional channel ETB, which will also offer the signal through its web platform EITB.