Victory for Michal Kwiatkowski in the Clásica Jaén-Paraíso Interior 2025

The Polish cyclist wins the Spanish gravel classic with a long-range attack, anticipating the movements of other favorites who, between them, were unable to catch the breakaway. A victory not without a certain dose of luck as Kwiatkowski benefited from Brandon McNulty's puncture, who was accompanying him on the adventure. Notable performance from Kern Pharma's cyclist Ibon Ruiz, who held on from the breakaway of the day until reaching a meritorious podium.

Excitement and constant attacks mark the Clásica Jaén-Paraíso Interior 2025

It does not have a star-studded participation, it is a category 1.1 race, the third tier of professional cycling, and yet, there is something about the Clásica Jaén-Paraíso Interior that has always made us enjoy a very good show in its just 4 editions held, based, of course, on its dirt sections through the olive fields that mark the landscape of Jaén but also, due to the layout proposed by the organization, which concentrates these sections in constant succession in the final stretch of the race.

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The first half of the race, with very favorable terrain, served for the modest teams to shine and place men in the breakaway of the day. A breakaway that was formed by 7 riders: Clément Alleno, Julen Arriola, Yentl Vandevelde, Edgar Curto, Richard Fitó, Adrian Benito, Ibon Ruiz.

However, as the dirt sections arrived, the pace accelerated and their advantage decreased, never exceeding 4 minutes and 50 seconds. But it was not until the second dirt section of the day when Tim Wellens made the first serious move among the theoretical contenders for victory, which only served to show that Wout van Aert was not yet in top form as it took a while to see him at the front of the group.

Also very ambitious was Egan Bernal, who, despite not being on ideal terrain for a climber like him, was tremendously active trying to get into the cuts that were happening with the combat unleashed and that was trying to contain as best as he could by Visma-Lease a Bike the British cyclist Ben Tulett.

And yet, one of those attacks that seems to be going nowhere, that is watched a little less because they are not initially important cyclists, ended up being the good one. From very far away, around 60 kilometers to the finish line, an old dog like Micha Kwiatkowski started an attack, followed by Brandon McNulty, and, despite the continuous attacks behind, they managed to open a gap of 40 seconds.

All this despite Bernal's ambition, who remained active from behind despite having a teammate like Kwiatkowski in front.

Thus, we reached the first passage through the Santa Eulalia section, the longest and most selective of the route, where Wout van Aert tried to play his card by making Ben Tulett pull hard. A huge move by the British rider that shattered the leading group. The problem is that it exposed the lack of competition rhythm of a Wout van Aert who had no choice but to switch roles with his teammate at the end of the section.

Van Aert was close to catching the breakaway of Kwiatkowski and McNulty, who were joined by Arriola and Ibon Ruiz who caught their wheel from the breakaway, although the former had to give up shortly after due to a puncture. However, after the passage through the finish line, Wout van Aert finished his work with the consequent stop that allowed the gap to open again.
Not even a strong attack by Wellens, Bernal, and the Frenchman Jordan Labrosse, who gained a twenty-second advantage, managed to catch up with a leading group that was moving steadily with fewer kilometers to go.

With the situation becoming clearer for the escapees and as we prepared to enjoy the resolution of the race, it came in the most unexpected way when Brandon McNulty punctured and handed the victory to Kwiatkowski on a silver platter, who had no difficulty, again in the Santa Eulalia section, in dropping a ProTour cyclist like Ibon Ruiz, who also carried the fatigue of coming from the initial breakaway of the day.

Nevertheless, Ibon Ruiz held on and, despite being caught in the final part by a powerful Isaac del Toro, who attacked from behind after his teammate's puncture, the Kern Pharma rider managed to suffer to secure a notable third place that will surely be celebrated in the ranks of the Navarrese team as if it were a victory.

2025 Clásica Jaén-Paraíso Interior Classification

1. Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers) 4h00'25''
2. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +31''
3. Ibon Ruiz (Kern Pharma) +46''
4. Jordan Labrosse (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale) +1'53''
5. Axel Laurance (INEOS Grenadiers) +1'53''
6. Eric Antonio Fagúndez (Burgos-Burpellet-BH) +1'57''
7. Clément Berthet (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale) +1'57''
8. Ben Tulett (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1'57''
9. Ben Turner (INEOS Grenadiers) +2'00''
10. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +2'01''