Race analysis, favourites, and predictions for Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa 2025

The Donostia San Sebastián Klasikoa is the most important one-day race on the Spanish calendar, and one of the most anticipated classics of the year for top climbers, as it features a mountainous course rarely seen in one-day events.

Held for the first time in 1981, the race quickly established itself in the elite of the international cycling, as evidenced by a winners' list that includes many stars from the last four decades. Since Marino Lejarreta won the inaugural edition, riders such as Adri Van Der Poel, Miguel Indurain, Giani Bugno, Claudio Chiappucci, Lance Armstrong, Laurent Jalabert, Paolo Bettini, Alejandro Valverde, Philippe Gilbert, or Remco Evenepoel (1200) — who has won 3 of the last 5 editions — have raised their arms in triumph on the Donostia boulevard.

 
Course

The race covers a total of 210 kilometers with a predominantly mountainous route that includes 6 categorized climbs. Early on, Andazarrate (5.9 km at 5.6%) may help form the day's breakaway, followed by the climbs of Urraki (8.6 km at 6.8%) and Alkiza (4.3 km at 5.9%). After passing the finish line in the opposite direction, riders will face Jaizkibel (7.9 km at 5.5%) and Erlaitz (3.9 km at 10.6%), before a second pass through the finish line. At this point, only 18 kilometers remain, including the final climb of the day, Murgil Tontorra (2 km at 9.6%), which returns after a one-year absence.

 
Favorites

Juan Ayuso (1000), Isaac Del Toro (1000), Oscar Onley (800), Mattias Skjelmose (1000), Mikel Landa (800), Giulio Ciccone (800), Antonio Tiberi (800), Lenny Martinez (800), Julian Alaphilippe (600), Pello Bilbao (800), Tobias Halland Johannessen (600), Neilson Powless (600), Alexandr Vlasov (800), Romain Grégoire (800), Giulio Pellizari (600), Aurélien Paret Peintre (400), Jan Christen (400), Marc Hirschi (800), Tiesj Benoot (400), Guillaume Martin (400), Pablo Castrillo (600), Quinn Simmons (200), Tibor del Grosso (200) or Cian Uijdebroeks (600) are some of the most prominent names we can find on this spectacular start list.

 
Photo: © Donostia San Sebastián Klasikoa