Remco Evenepoel takes third win in Clásica San Sebastián

Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel won the 43rd edition of the Clásica San Sebastián on Saturday. He beat Pello Bilbao and Alexandr Vlasov to secure his third San Sebastián victory.

Evenepoel held off Spanish rider Bilbao in a two-man sprint after the 230.2 km race starting and finishing in the Basque city. "I knew Pello was fast. I was surprised by my sprint, but I felt I had really good legs," he said. Russian Vlasov was third on the podium.

Evenepoel previously won the Clásica San Sebastián in 2019 and 2022. He now has nine wins to his name this year, having won the UAE Tour, two stages of the Tour of Catalonia, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, two Giro time trials, a stage of the Tour de Suisse and the Belgian championship.

With three wins, he has equalled the record number of San Sebastián victories held by Spanish rider Marino Lejarreta. "I love this race," said Evenepoel. "The fans are fantastic. They shouted a bit more for Pello on the climb, but I can understand that. He's Basque!"

^{Remco Evenepoel © BELGA PHOTO TOM GOYVAERTS}