Former winner Julian Alaphilippe and home favourite Mikel Landa spearhead our team this Saturday.
Soudal Quick-Step returns to action this weekend at the only Spanish World Tour one-day race of the calendar, Clasica San Sebastian. It’s one of the most prestigious events of the season, one which our squad has won on six different occasions, most recently last year, when Remco Evenepoel made it a hat-trick of individual victories after another remarkable display.
This time, the Wolfpack will be led by Julian Alaphilippe, the 2018 winner of the Clasica San Sebastian, and Mikel Landa, who comes to the start after his excellent Tour de France, which he concluded in fifth place, and will start his home race for the 12th time. Joining them will be Kasper Asgreen, Mattia Cattaneo, Gil Gelders, William Junior Lecerf and Mauri Vansevenant – many of whom are making their first outing since completing an altitude training camp in Val di Fassa.
At 236 kilometers in length, this 44th edition will be the longest in 15 years and comprise seven climbs, just like last season. Unlike last year, the final difficulty of the day won’t be Murgil Tontorra anymore, but a much harder ascent, the Pilotegi. Averaging 11.7% and featuring an insane 27% maximum gradient in the last 500 meters, this 2km “wall” will be crested with 7.5 kilometers to go, from the top only a fast descent and a short flat section remaining until the finish in the charming center of San Sebastian.
“We won a lot of times this beautiful event and we want to do again a good race. We come with Julian, who had a strong outing at the Czech Tour, and Mikel Landa, in his first race since concluding a solid Tour de France in the top five three weeks ago. They are both very motivated and can rely on a good squad that is ready to support them”, said Soudal Quick-Step sports director Wilfried Peeters.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
