Belgian Remco Evenepoel made an extended vary solo break to blow away his rivals and win the San Sebastian Classic for the second time on Saturday.
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The Quick-Step rider broke clear with 45km to go to reclaim the title he received in comparable style in 2019 as he builds in direction of subsequent month’s Vuelta a Espana.
Evenepoel, 22, crossed the road almost two minutes ahead of France’s Pavel Sivakov with fellow Belgian Tiesj Benoot, two and a half minutes off the tempo.
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Remco Evenepoel, winner of Liege-Bastogne-Liege in April, had not raced since profitable the Belgian time-trial title on June 23.
The younger Belgian opted for a three-week course at altitude in northern Italy to put together for the Vuelta, his huge objective for the second half of the season.
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“It’s one of my favourite races after Liège,” stated Evenepoel as he climbed on the rostrum and donned a conventional Basque beret.
Riders who competed within the Tour de France confirmed their fatigue within the Basque nation after three weeks of intense racing.
Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, competing six days after ending second in Paris the place he was the defending champion, was left behind within the climb of Jaizkibel, 63km from the end.
Evenepoel noticed his likelihood in Erlaitz, the principle problem of the race over 4km at greater than 10% gradient.
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Briton Simon Yates had regarded within the chase on Evenepoel’s wheel earlier than stalling with 1.8km to go to the summit, being caught by the primary pursuers and eventually ending sixth.
Remco Evenepoel praised the efforts of his Quick-Step staff
“They did a great job from the start, thanks to them I was able to arrive fresh on the penultimate climb and maintain big rhythm to the top,” stated Evenepoel.
“I felt very good,” he stated.
“The concept was to develop base within the perspective of the Vuelta. This week, I feel I rode about ten hours, so I really feel very recent.
“I am more complete than three years ago,” he added.
“I had variations in weight, up and down, but we worked on that at the dietary level. I’m stable now. I’m two kilos lighter but I’m still just as explosive, if not more.”
Evenepoel stated he was heading for the opening time-trial of the Vuelta in Utrecht on August 19 “with a good feeling”.
“I’ll be able to go there relaxed, and with the necessary self-confidence.”
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
