Remco Evenepoel on Saturday won the San Sebastian Classic in a thrilling race that also saw Julian Alaphilippe compound his Tour de France disappointment by dropping out less than halfway through.
The fresh-faced Belgian becomes the youngest-ever winner of a World Tour race at 19 years and 190 days of age, and added to his Tour of Belgium win in June and last week’s victory in Aalst after stretching away from the peloton with 20km to go and never looking back.
Deceuninck Quick-Step rider Evenepoel is in his first year as a professional, but has already been compared to compatriot and cycling legend Eddy Merckx, and he looked in prime form as he crossed the line 38 seconds ahead of the chasing peloton.
“I really did not feel good today for most of the race,” Evenepoel said afterward. “This is incredible. I really can’t believe it. I’ve always dreamed of a win like this, but doing it in my first year was amazing.”
Evenepoel’s teammate, Alaphilippe, who held the yellow jersey at the Tour de France for 14 stages before being overhauled by eventual winner Egan Bernal, was forced to abandon the Basque Country race 90km into his ride.
Alaphilippe was hotly tipped to retain his title in San Sebastian, and the race also looked set to feature a renewed battle between him and Ineos’ Tour champion Bernal.
However, with the pair nowhere in the race, it was Toms Skujins and Evenepoel who made the burst away from the peloton as the race edged toward its climax, with Skujins darting forward with 20km left before being chased down by Evenepoel.
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