Tony Gallopin (RadioShack) took the biggest victory if his career as he won the 2013 Clásica San Sebastián with a solo breakaway. The 25-year-old Frenchman escaped from a select breakaway group of riders on the final climb of the Alto Arkale with 16km to go, increasing his lead on the wet descent that followed, and managed to hold off a five-man chase on the flat run to the line.
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) won the sprint for second place, 28 seconds behind Gallopin, with Roman Kreuziger (Saxo-Tinkoff) third.
“I was so tired after the Tour de France and even disappointed because I couldn’t win a stage," said Gallopin. "But this morning I immediately knew that I had super good legs. I like the one-day races but this is the first time I’ve done this race so it was really new for me. But I’m so happy. To be here on the podium with Valverde and Kreuziger means a lot to me.
“I already felt good on the Jaizkibel and then on the Arcale I could feel I was still good," Gallopin added. "As I knew [teammate] Bob Jungels was coming back I didn’t dare attack but Alain gave me the green light."
The 232km race saw an early breakaway from Luca Wackermann (Lampre-Merida), Matthias Krizek (Cannondale), Francisco Aramendia (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Olivier Kaisen (Lotto-Belisol), who managed to get 11 minutes clear in the first half. Over the two ascents of the Alto de Jaizkibel, however, the winning group was formed as Valverde attacked with teammate Nairo Quintana, and the others followed.
Kreuziger attacked over the second ascent of the Jaizkibel, but was chased down by Gallopin, Valverde, Nicolas Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff), Mikel Landa (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Moreno Moser (Cannondale), Yannick Eijssen (BMC Racing) and Arnold Jeannesson (FDJ.fr). This group was soon joined by Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), then Nieve, Bob Jungels (RadioShack-Leopard) and Pieter Serry (Omega Pharma-Quick Step).
This was the point that Gallopin put in his successful attack, however. Roche and Landa were the first to give chase, to be joined by Valverde, Kreuziger and Nieve, but they were unable to close the Frenchman down on the mostly flat run to the finish.
Four get a long way clear but it’s the Jaizkibel that makes the selection
Wackermann, Krizek, Aramendia and Kaisen escaped in the very first kilometres of the race, and were 8’45” clear over the Alto de Garate, after 29.4km. Lone chaser Will Clarke (Argos-Shimano) managed to get to within 1’20” of them, but the group did not sit up to wait for the Australian and he gradually drifted backwards towards the peloton.
The quartet was 11 minutes ahead of the peloton after 53km, with the gap staying largely constant for some time. Clarke was finally caught after 73km, however, as the peloton began to gradually accelerate behind the group.
Aramendia lost contact with the leaders on the first climb of the 1st category Alto de Jaizkibel, and he was 1’10” behind as Wackermann led over the top. The increased speed of the peloton meant that it was just 3’35” behind as it passed over the climb with 75km to go.
There were several attempts to make it across to the leaders, with Egor Silin (Astana) and Fabricio Ferrari (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) managing to escape the peloton. Kaisen was the next to lose contact as they hit the Jaizkibel for the second time, before Herrada, Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil-DCM), Matti Breschel (Saxo-Tinkoff), Chavanel and Jérôme Pineau (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Yannick Eijssen (BMC Racing) and Pavel Brutt (Katusha) made it across.
Valverde and Quintana then attacked and made it up to the lead group, and the Colombian best young rider from the Tour de France a week before hit the front and began to pull his team leader away. The group that formed behind the two Movistar riders contained Gallopin, Kreuziger and Roche, Landa, Moser and Jeannesson, with Eijssen the only one of the breakaway to be able to stay with the big names.
Several more riders tried to break free of the peloton and make it across and a large chase group formed, led by Bauke Mollema (Belkin) and Belgian champion Stijn Devolder (RadioShack-Leopard).
As Quintana pulled over, however, Kreuziger managed to attack and break free of the group. Over the top with 36.5km to go the Czech rider was just a few seconds clear of the chasers, while the next group was 40 seconds behind.
The decisive break is formed and the winning break is made
Kreuziger was soon caught on the descent and a group of eight riders formed as it began to rain. Having made a very fast descent Astarloza and Chavanel managed to join onto the back of the group just after they passed under the 20km to go banner.
Luxembourg champion Jungels, Nieve and Serry were also closing in on the leaders, and were about to make contact.
With 17km to go the group of ten was more than a minute ahead of the next chase group as it was absorbed by what was left of the peloton. Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Leopard) immediately tried to jump away, but the Belgian Tour de France stage winner faced a near-impossible task.
Jungels, Nieve and Serry made contact with the lead group just as it hit the foot of the final climb of the Alto Arkale, and Gallopin immediately attacked. Roche and Landa gave chase but the duo was 16 seconds behind the Frenchman as he passed over the top with 15km to go.
Valverde was leading the rest of the chasers, with Kreuziger and Nieve glued to his wheel, just a few seconds back, and they soon made contact with Roche and Landa. After a fast descent on wet roads, Gallopin was 40 seconds clear with 11km to go as the chasers organised themselves behind him.
With two from Saxo-Tinkoff and two from Euskaltel-Euskadi in the five-man group, and all five riders working together, the group was gradually gaining on the lone leader, but with eight kilometres to go he was still 30 seconds ahead.
At the five kilometre banner Gallopin’s lead was down to 25 seconds, but the Frenchman was still looking strong as the quintet struggle to close him down. On the last drag with four kilometres to go the two Saxo-Tinkoff riders increased the pace, which saw Landa dropped off the back of the chase. This cut the gap to 16 seconds at the three kilometre banner, but there were no further obstacles between Gallopin and the finish.
Kreuziger tried to attack, but Valverde was immediately on his wheel and the pace dropped out of the chase. Gallopin was now passing under the flamme rouge, and riding on to his biggest ever victory.
The four chasers fanned across the road as they arrived at the finish, with Valverde just managing to hold off Kreuziger on the line.
Clasica San Sebastian (WorldTour):
1, Tony Gallopin (RadioShack Leopard) 232 kilometres in 5 hours 39 mins 2 secs
2, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Movistar Team) at 28 secs
3, Roman Kreuziger (Team Saxo-Tinkoff)
4, Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
5, Nicolas Roche (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) at 29 secs
6, Mikel Landa Meana (Euskaltel-Euskadi) at 36 secs
7, Moreno Moser (Cannondale Pro Cycling) at 51 secs
8, Pieter Serry (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
9, Bauke Mollema (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
10, Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
11, Jan Bakelants (RadioShack Leopard)
12, Robert Gesink (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
13, Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
14, Wouter Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team)
15, Bob Jungels (RadioShack Leopard) at 53 secs
16, Yannick Eijssen (BMC Racing Team) at 1 min 17 secs
17, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) at 1 min mins 55 secs
18, Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team)
19, Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale)
20, Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha)
21, Dries Devenyns (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) at 2 mins 22 secs
22, Kristijan Durasek (Lampre-Merida)
23, John Gadret (AG2R La Mondiale)
24, Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team)
25, David Arroyo Duran (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) at 2 mins 31 secs
26, Brian Bulgac (Lotto Belisol) at 2 mins 44 secs
27, Damiano Caruso (Cannondale Pro Cycling) at 3 mins 12 secs
28, Julien Berard (AG2R La Mondiale)
29, Pavel Brutt (Katusha)
30, Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team)
31, Igor Anton Hernandez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) at 3 mins 13 secs
32, Alexandre Geniez (FDJ.fr) at 3 mins 16 secs
33, Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) at 3 mins 19 secs
34, Tiago Machado (RadioShack Leopard)
35, Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Movistar Team) at 3 mins 20 secs
36, Jakob Fuglsang (Astana Pro Team)
37, Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Euskaltel-Euskadi) at 4 mins 5 secs
38, Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
39, Dario Cataldo (Sky Procycling)
40, Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale)
41, Francois Parisien (Team Argos-Shimano) at 4 mins 40 secs
42, Caleb Fairly (Garmin-Sharp)
43, Andriy Grivko (Astana Pro Team)
44, Thomas Damuseau (Team Argos-Shimano)
45, Andre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
46, Alberto Contador Velasco (Team Saxo-Tinkoff)
47, Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge)
48, Tom Jelte Slagter (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
49, Manuele Mori (Lampre-Merida)
50, Carlos Verona Quintanilla (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
51, Peter Velits (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
52, Bram Tankink (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
53, Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (RadioShack Leopard)
54, Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
55, Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
56, Ivan Velasco Murillo (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
57, Stijn Devolder (RadioShack Leopard)
58, Amaël Moinard (BMC Racing Team)
59, Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha)
60, Luca Paolini (Katusha)
61, Eduard Vorganov (Katusha)
62, Anthony Roux (FDJ.fr) at 6 mins 34 secs
63, Pierrick Fedrigo (FDJ.fr)
64, Markel Irizar Aranburu (RadioShack Leopard)
65, Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
66, Fabian Wegmann (Garmin-Sharp)
67, Stefano Agostini (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
68, Wesley Sulzberger (Orica-GreenEdge)
69, Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Movistar Team)
70, Fabricio Ferrari Barcelo (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
71, Marcos Garcia (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
72, Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Merida)
73, Egor Silin (Astana Pro Team)
74, José Herrada Lopez (Movistar Team)
75, Gert Dockx (Lotto Belisol)
76, Björn Leukemans (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team)
77, Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana Pro Team)
78, Guillaume Bonnafond (AG2R La Mondiale)
79, Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge)
80, Fabio Aru (Astana Pro Team) at 12 mins 24 secs
81, Paolo Longo Borghini (Cannondale Pro Cycling) at 13 mins 14 secs
82, Matthias Krizek (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
83, Koldo Fernandez (Garmin-Sharp)
84, Gaetan Bille (Lotto Belisol)
85, Matti Breschel (Team Saxo-Tinkoff)
86, Paul Martens (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
87, Filippo Pozzato (Lampre-Merida)
88, Jesus Herrada Lopez (Movistar Team)
89, Antonio Piedra Perez (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
90, Assan Bazayev (Astana Pro Team)
91, Frederik Veuchelen (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team)
92, Ian Boswell (Sky Procycling)
93, Tom Stamsnijder (Team Argos-Shimano)
94, Joseph Lloyd Dombrowski (Sky Procycling)
95, Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp) at 17 mins 48 secs
96, Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp)
97, Luca Wackermann (Lampre-Merida) at 20 mins 10 secs
98, Mads Christensen (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) at 21 mins 23 secs
99, Olivier Kaisen (Lotto Belisol)
100, Thierry Hupond (Team Argos-Shimano)
101, Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol)
Did not finish:
Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
Arnold Jeannesson (FDJ.fr)
Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Movistar Team)
Benoît Vaugrenard (FDJ.fr)
Blel Kadri (AG2R La Mondiale)
Danilo Wyss (BMC Racing Team)
Davide Cimolai (Lampre-Merida)
Dennis Van Winden (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
Dmitry Kozontchuk (Katusha)
Enrico Gasparotto (Astana Pro Team)
Federico Canuti (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
Francesco Gavazzi (Astana Pro Team)
Hubert Dupont (AG2R La Mondiale)
Imanol Erviti Ollo (Movistar Team)
Jack Bobridge (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
Javier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
Jens Keukeleire (Orica-GreenEdge)
Jérémy Roy (FDJ.fr)
Jérôme Pineau (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Team Saxo-Tinkoff)
Joshua Edmondson (Sky Procycling)
Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto Belisol)
Jurgen Van De Walle (Lotto Belisol)
Kanstantsin Siutsou (Sky Procycling)
Kris Boeckmans (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team)
Kristijan Koren (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
Laurent Mangel (FDJ.fr)
Laurent Pichon (FDJ.fr)
Luca Dodi (Lampre-Merida)
Marcus Burghardt (BMC Racing Team)
Martin Velits (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Massimo Graziato (Lampre-Merida)
Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge)
Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge)
Michael Rogers (Team Saxo-Tinkoff)
Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Michel Kreder (Garmin-Sharp)
Pablo Lastras Garcia (Movistar Team)
Patrick Gretsch (Team Argos-Shimano)
Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team)
Richie Porte (Sky Procycling)
Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp)
Sander Cordeel (Lotto Belisol)
Sebastian Lander (BMC Racing Team)
Sébastien Minard (AG2R La Mondiale)
Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Team Saxo-Tinkoff)
Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge)
Steve Morabito (BMC Racing Team)
Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team)
Tobias Ludvigsson (Team Argos-Shimano)
William Clarke (Team Argos-Shimano)
Xabier Zandio Echaide (Sky Procycling)
Xavier Florencio Cabre (Katusha)
Yann Huguet (Team Argos-Shimano)
Yury Trofimov (Katusha)
Mountain primes:
Category two climb of Alto Garate (km 29.4):
1, Luca Wackermann (Lampre-Merida) 6 pts
2, Olivier Kaisen (Lotto Belisol) 4
3, Matthias Krizek (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 2
4, Javier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) 1
Category 1 climb of Alto de Jaizkibel (km 157):
1, Luca Wackermann (Lampre-Merida) 10 pts
2, Olivier Kaisen (Lotto Belisol) 8
3, Matthias Krizek (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 6
4, Javier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) 4
5, Jack Bobridge (Belkin Pro Cycling Team) 2
6, Andre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) 1
Category two climb of Alto de Arkale (km 178.6):
1, Luca Wackermann (Lampre-Merida) 6 pts
2, Matthias Krizek (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 4
3, Pavel Brutt (Katusha) 2
4, Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) 1
Category 1 climb of Alto de Jaizkibel (km 196):
1, Roman Kreuziger (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) 10 pts
2, Tony Gallopin (RadioShack Leopard) 8
3, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Movistar Team) 6
4, Nicolas Roche (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) 4
5, Moreno Moser (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 2
6, Arnold Jeannesson (FDJ.fr) 1
Category 2 climb of Alto de Arkale (km 217.5):
1, Tony Gallopin (RadioShack Leopard) 6 pts
2, Nicolas Roche (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) 4
3, Mikel Landa Meana (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 2
4, Roman Kreuziger (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) 1
Mountains:
1, Luca Wackermann (Lampre-Merida) 22 pts
2, Tony Gallopin (RadioShack Leopard) 14
3, Matthias Krizek (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 12
4, Olivier Kaisen (Lotto Belisol) 12
5, Roman Kreuziger (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) 11
6, Nicolas Roche (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) 8
7, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Movistar Team) 6
8, Mikel Landa Meana (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 2
9, Moreno Moser (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 2
10, Pavel Brutt (Katusha) 2
11, Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) 1
12, Andre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) 1
Sprints:
1, Matthias Krizek (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 11 pts
2, Tony Gallopin (RadioShack Leopard) 5
3, Olivier Kaisen (Lotto Belisol) 4
4, Moreno Moser (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 3
5, Luca Wackermann (Lampre-Merida) 3
6, Roman Kreuziger (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) 2
7, Nicolas Roche (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) 1
8, Mikel Landa Meana (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 1
9, Matti Breschel (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) 1
Teams:
1, RadioShack Leopard, 16 hours 58 mins 50 secs
2, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 11 secs
3, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 2 mins 20 secs
4, Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team, at 3 mins 24 secs
5, Team Saxo-Tinkoff, at 3 mins 53 secs
6, Belkin Pro Cycling Team, at 4 mins 38 secs
7, Ag2R La Mondiale, at 5 mins 45 secs
8, BMC Racing Team, at 6 mins 8 secs
9, Katusha, at 8 mins 3 secs
10, Movistar Team, at 8 mins 38 secs
11, Cannondale Pro Cycling, at 8 mins 53 secs
12, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, at 9 mins 32 secs
13, Lampre-Merida, at 11 mins 52 secs
14, Orica-GreenEdge, at 12 mins 49 secs
15, Astana Pro Team, at 12 mins 50 secs
16, FDJ.fr, at 14 mins 40 secs
17, Lotto Belisol, at 20 mins 48 secs
18, Team Argos-Shimano, at 20 mins 50 secs
19, Garmin-Sharp, at 22 mins 44 secs
20, Sky Procycling, at 28 mins 49 secs