Race jury disrupts Clásica San Sebastián after Remco Evenepoel puncture

The Clásica San Sebastián was controlled for much of Saturday afternoon by Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, but the complexion of the northern Spanish one-day race suddenly changed inside the final 50 kilometres when Remco Evenepoel suffered a puncture. In many races, it would have been little more than a minor incident, but the jury’s response in San Sebastián ended up having a major influence on the race.

As mentioned, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe had spent almost the entire day controlling the gap to the breakaway, with pre-race favourite Evenepoel safely positioned in the peloton. The German team appeared to have everything under control until Evenepoel suddenly had to change bikes because of a puncture. The Belgian was helped calmly, knowing that he still had several team and race vehicles between himself and the back of the peloton.

During the Tour de France, dozens—and perhaps even hundreds—of riders can be seen returning through the convoy after a mechanical problem, moving from one vehicle to another before eventually reaching the back of the peloton. At the Clásica San Sebastián, however, the race jury was having none of it. Shortly after changing bikes, Evenepoel attempted to sit briefly behind the Red Bull team car, but he was quickly reprimanded.

A race official was riding on a motorbike to Evenepoel’s left and instructed the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team car to move away from its leader. Evenepoel therefore had to close the gap to the peloton entirely under his own power, while Lidl-Trek had taken over the pace-setting at the front. Giulio Pellizzari was eventually sent back to help Evenepoel return, but the pair were unable to make contact before the next climb began.

Evenepoel consequently reached the Erlaitz while still a short distance behind the tail of the peloton. The ascent, which is often decisive in the race, is 3.8 kilometres long and averages more than ten per cent. By the summit, Evenepoel was 37 seconds behind the first group of favourites, which had broken clear on the steep climb.

It was far from ideal, but Evenepoel produced an impressive effort to return to the front of the race. That was partly thanks to his strong legs and partly because his rivals began watching and attacking one another. After a chase lasting around 20 kilometres, the pre-race favourite was therefore still given an opportunity to compete at full strength for victory, despite the unusually strict intervention from the race official.

Evenepoel will undoubtedly have something to say about the incident after the race, as riders who suffer a puncture or another mechanical problem are rarely prevented so firmly from using the race convoy while attempting to return to the peloton.