Adam Yates takes solo win at Clásica San Sebastián
Orica-GreenEdge rider attacks on final climb
Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge) took the biggest win of his young career at the Clásica San Sebastian on Saturday, with victory coming as a huge surprise after the 22-year-old British rider believed a breakaway had finished ahead of him.
Yates only realised he had won after he passed the finish line and saw his soigneur celebrating. He only then started to celebrate his win but still needed convincing after the race.
“I didn’t know I’d won. I spoke to my directeur sportif but the radio was too quiet to hear him. I honestly thought there was a break up the road,” Yates explained briefly before crowned the winner on the podium. “I didn’t know what had exactly happened up front in the finale. I just went full gas and so I won but at the time I had no idea.”
A problem with the plane that helps transit live television images was the cause for confusion with teams and commentators forced to follow the action by official race radio. Yates attacked on the final climb of the 219km Clásica, the steep Bordako Tontorra that summited just seven kilometres from the finish line.
He blasted past the remains of a late attack that included Philippe Gilbert (BMC) and Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale-Garmin) and passed Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), who was apparently hit by a race motorbike after attacking first. The Belgian later vented his anger via Twitter but failed to finish the race after breaking his bike.
Yates did not hesitate despite the confusion and surged on, blasting between the walls of shouting Basque cycling fans. He started the descent with a handful of seconds on the chasers and kept going.
Last year, Adam Yates was in the select front group but crashed on the twisting descent. This time he had no problem and used his evident Tour de France form to dive down the descent and power to the finish.
Behind, big favourites Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) joined the group of chasers but they failed to work together, helping Yates stay away.
They sat up on the descent and then refused to work smoothly on the final flat kilometres into San Sebastian, allowing Yates to open his lead to 15 seconds.
In the final kilometre, Yates tried desperately to obtain info from his Orica-GreenEdge team car but the crowd drowned out any updates during one of the best moments of his young career.
How it happened
Before the hectic, confused finale, the Clásica San Sebastian followed its traditional pattern with the early break of eight riders surviving the two climbs of the Jaizkibel.
The eight were Manuel Boaro (Tinkoff-Saxo), Valerio Agnoli (Astana), Dennis Vannendert (Lotto Soudal), Nathan Haas (Cannondale-Garmin), Maarten Wynants (LottoNL-Jumbo), Thomas Degand (IAM Cycling), Lluis Mas (Caja Rural) and Romain Hardy (Cofidis) but the peloton never let them gain more than three-minutes, with the Movistar team doing a lot of work on the front to keep them in check.
The second climb of the Jaizkibel saw the break explode after Boaro attacked alone. He got a gap but faced a long, lone battle in pursuit of victory. Several groups attacked from the peloton on the Jaizkibel and that helped a 16-rider group form later over the top of the Alto Arkale climb with 30km to go. Gilbert was convinced the move was the right attack and worked hard to make it stay away. Hesjedal was also in the move as the Movistar and Katusha lead peloton waited for the late and decisive Bordako Tontorra climb.
Behind, Valverde and the others hesitated and missed their chance, perhaps convinced that Yates would not make it to the finish on his own. They must have forgotten how strong the young British rider was in the Tour de France and his performance in last year’s race. It was a huge mistake to let Yates go and he finished off a perfect attack, even if he did not know he had won.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Adam Yates (GBr) Orica GreenEdge | 5:30:22 |
2 | Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing | 0:00:15 |
3 | Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Team Katusha | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Joaquim Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek Factory Racing | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Rigoberto Urán (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Nelson Oliveira (Por) Lampre-Merida | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Simon Yates (GBr) Orica GreenEdge | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Michele Scarponi (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:00:20 |
18 | Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) BMC Racing | 0:00:24 |
19 | Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Astana Pro Team | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:00:28 |
23 | Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ.fr | 0:00:37 |
24 | Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo | 0:00:42 |
25 | Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:00:54 |
26 | Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:01:57 |
27 | Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Andre Fernando S Martins Cardoso (Por) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Nathan Earle (Aus) Team Sky | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Sebastian Henao Gomez (Col) Team Sky | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier (Fra) FDJ.fr | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Sky | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | David Tanner (Aus) IAM Cycling | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Zdenek _tybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica GreenEdge | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Mathias Frank (Swi) IAM Cycling | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek Factory Racing | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Winner Anacona Gomez (Col) Movistar Team | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Egor Silin (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Stef Clement (Ned) IAM Cycling | 0:02:29 |
47 | Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Team Sky | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Pieter Serry (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Julien Vermote (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Lampre-Merida | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Amets Txurruka (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | 0:03:03 |
54 | Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal | 0:03:37 |
55 | Marcel Wyss (Swi) IAM Cycling | 0:03:46 |
56 | Chad Haga (USA) Team Giant-Alpecin | 0:03:53 |
57 | Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Trek Factory Racing | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM Cycling | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica GreenEdge | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Benoït Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ.fr | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Luis Angel Maté Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Rein Taaramäe (Est) Astana Pro Team | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Team Katusha | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo | 0:04:03 |
65 | Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Astana Pro Team | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Lampre-Merida | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek Factory Racing | 0:04:47 |
69 | Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo | 0:04:50 |
70 | Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:05:01 |
71 | Dries Devenyns (Bel) IAM Cycling | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Julián Arredondo (Col) Trek Factory Racing | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Tiago Machado (Por) Team Katusha | 0:05:58 |
75 | Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNL-Jumbo | 0:06:18 |
76 | Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdge | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Pavel Kochetkov (Rus) Team Katusha | 0:06:53 |
79 | Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team | 0:06:54 |
80 | Bob Jungels (Lux) Trek Factory Racing | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Romain Hardy (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Simon _pilak (Slo) Team Katusha | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Nathan Brown (USA) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | 0:07:10 |
84 | Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:07:37 |
85 | Yury Trofimov (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing | 0:08:12 |
87 | Matteo Trentin (Ita) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Giant-Alpecin | 0:09:12 |
90 | Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team | 0:12:01 |
91 | Miguel Ángel Benito Diez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | 0:12:08 |
92 | Nathan Haas (Aus) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Pello Bilbao (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
94 | Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:14:40 |
95 | Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida | 0:15:06 |
96 | Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana Pro Team | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ruben Fernandez (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jesus Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Javier Moreno Bazan (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Rory Sutherland (Aus) Movistar Team | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Christopher Sutton (Aus) Team Sky | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Danny Pate (USA) Team Sky | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Martin Velits (Svk) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Pavel Brutt (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Tinkoff-Saxo | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing Team | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Loic Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing Team | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sam Bewley (NZl) Orica GreenEdge | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica GreenEdge | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenEdge | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-Merida | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mario Jorge Faria Da Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ilia Koshevoy (Blr) Lampre-Merida | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Luka Pibernik (Slo) Lampre-Merida | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Biel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJ.fr | Row 122 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kévin Reza (Fra) FDJ.fr | Row 123 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.fr | Row 124 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ.fr | Row 125 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Soudal | Row 126 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Stig Broeckx (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 127 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sean De Bie (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 128 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 129 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory Racing | Row 130 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory Racing | Row 131 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 132 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Thierry Hupond (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 133 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Fredrik Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 134 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 135 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Zico Waeytens (Bel) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 136 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | Row 137 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | Row 138 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Thomas Leezer (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo | Row 139 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nick Van Der Lijke (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo | Row 140 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jos Van Emden (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo | Row 141 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo | Row 142 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Thomas Degand (Bel) IAM Cycling | Row 143 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling | Row 144 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Carlos Barbero Cuesta (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 145 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Omar Fraile Matarranz (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 146 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Luis Mas Bonet (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 147 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 148 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Yohan Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 149 - Cell 2 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Nathan Haas (Aus) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | 5 | pts |
2 | Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 3 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo | 3 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Astana Pro Team | 3 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal | 3 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) BMC Racing | 2 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Lluís Guillermo Mas Bonet (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | 2 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Thomas Degand (Bel) IAM Cycling | 2 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin | 1 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Nathan Haas (Aus) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | 30 | pts |
2 | Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal | 16 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo | 14 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Astana Pro Team | 13 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Thomas Degand (Bel) IAM Cycling | 10 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Lluís Guillermo Mas Bonet (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | 9 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Romain Hardy (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 8 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Adam Yates (GBr) Orica GreenEdge | 6 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 6 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNL-Jumbo | 6 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Joaquim Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha | 4 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | 4 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team | 2 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Egor Silin (Rus) Team Katusha | 2 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin | 1 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
16 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo | 1 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Astana Pro Team | 16:32:00 |
2 | Orica GreenEDGE | 0:01:18 |
3 | Katusha Team | 0:01:33 |
4 | Etixx - Quick Step | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | BMC Racing Team | 0:01:42 |
6 | Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr | 0:02:04 |
7 | Team Cannondale - Garmin | 0:03:15 |
8 | Team Sky | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Lotto Soudal | 0:03:24 |
10 | Cofidis Solutions Crédits | 0:03:54 |
11 | Ag2r La Mondiale | 0:04:55 |
12 | Trek Factory Racing | 0:05:11 |
13 | IAM Cycling | 0:05:29 |
14 | Tinkoff - Saxo | 0:05:53 |
15 | Lampre - Merida | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | 0:06:03 |
17 | Movistar Team | 0:08:12 |
18 | Team Lotto NL - Jumbo | 0:08:35 |
19 | Team Giant - Alpecin | 0:12:26 |
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Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.
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