Probably the easiest picks you could made for the whole season. You could either pick defending winner Remco Evenepoel and fits all the riders who looked in the Tour de France or you could go on the daredevil side and build a team of gutsy riders without Remco. Either way the velogames superclasico round 23 is category 2 race which means you could take some risk with not much to lose if they don’t perform. Clásica San Sebastián 2023 is expected to be a race of half. One where any group of rather good riders gets away. As the Jaizkibel approaches, the peloton is expected to explode and this is where Soudal Quick-Step is expected to pace things up and join the break away. The Mendisorrotz is where we need to watch out for Remco to make his move. From then on, it will be who can hold on.
In comparison to last year or the past 2 Liege Bastogne Liege, there are quite a handful of riders fresh from the Tour who could keep up with Remco and eventually deny him. Felix Gall, Simon Yates, Pello Bilbao and Guilio Ciccone all finished a rather successful Tour de France less than week ago and would love to win this classics race. Team UAE Emirates duo Juan Ayuso and Marc Hirschi were not at the Tour de France but they are hot red right now!
Remco Evenepoel, the world champion is sitll the favourite to win Clasica San Sebastian 2023 as he continues to built his form with a week to the World Championship where he will defend his title.
- Remco Evenepoel (Soudal – Quick Step) (/) 30 : The big favourite and the are not a lot who could beat him
- Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal – Quick Step) (/) 28 : Looks very lively in the Tour but not at the best we have seen him before. Should be working to set up the current world champion
- Biniam Girmay (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) (/) 22 : Not sure he will keep up on the last climb. But he could be valuable by winning the sprints if G2 syndrome strikes.
- Dylan Teuns (Israel – Premier Tech) (/) 22 : The best puncheur of last year had a rather quiet Tour. Form is not her.
- Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma) (/) 22 : Will have the freedom and should top 10. Impressive show of force when needed on the Tour.
- Michael Matthews (Team Jayco AlUla) (/) 22 : A race that could suit him attributes for a podium but form is a bit unknown.
- Bauke Mollema (Lidl – Trek) (/) 20 : A race that he has won in the past always perform. His form has not great this season but has realistic chances of a top 10.
- Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) (/) 20 : Was ok at the Tour de Solvenia but will most probably be protecting Ayuso and Hirschi
- Alex Aranburu (Movistar Team) (/) 20 : While this course really suits him characteristics, he really did not have any performance at the Tour 9 yes he finished it) to back his selection
- Iván García Cortina (Movistar Team) (/) 20 : Complicated and too risky choice to make
- Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) (/) 18 : He is looking very close to the Hirschi of 2020. A good differential bargain to consider.
- Romain Bardet (Team DSM) (/) 18 : How much has recovered from his crash? A wait and watch approach might be wiser here.
- Michael Woods (Israel – Premier Tech) (/) 18 : Good puncheur but the race does not end at the end of a climb
- Simon Yates (Team Jayco AlUla) (/) 18 : I still would not go near picking him that easily despite his Tour de France exploits.
- Pello Bilbao (Bahrain – Victorious) (/) 18 : Will probably be in everyone’s team. Has never looked that good, is confident after his Tour De France and is at home.
- Lorenzo Rota (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) (/) 16 : This is the type of race that suits his attributes. 10th last year. Form is never an issue for him as he alters good and bad results.
- Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck) (/) 16 : not really a race for him.
- Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) (/) 16 : Looked kind of burned out after wearing the Polka Dot for half of the Tour.
- Mikel Landa (Bahrain – Victorious) (/) 16 : Well. Is he on course a return to shape for the Vuelta. I would not dare try going down that avenue
- Toms Skujiņš (Lidl – Trek) (/) 14 : He has not really raced much following his excellent Giro. But he needs to be considered given he was 7th last year here.
- Andrea Bagioli (Soudal – Quick Step) (/) 14 : Did take a win in Wallonie but will be working for Remco
- Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) (/) 14 : He has been mind blowing since his return to racing this season. He finished 3rd of Preuba Villafrance behind team-mate Hirschi.
- Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers) (/) 14 : Completely destroyed the Tour of Austria with 3 stage wins and the GC. Form is good but this is another level.
- Carlos Rodríguez (INEOS Grenadiers) (/) 14 : Impressive performance at the Tour which put him in brackets for Vuelta podium contention and here too.
- Giulio Ciccone (Lidl – Trek) (/) 12 : Very surprised that he is here as he was supposed to be going on Honey Moon. Anyway, we saw his force and power on the Tour de France climbs. Expect him to be the first to start the fireworks on the last climb.
- Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain – Victorious) (/) 12 : He will be trying to have its his way by trying something way before the last climb.
- Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) (/) 10 : He was very close to stage victories of the Tour de France. Has the potential for a top 10 here.
- Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) (/) 8 : Is confirming all his potentials of last season. An excellent card to play.
- Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM) (/) 8 : Top 10 in the Giro this year. Looks like DSM best chance with Bardet.
- Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) (/) 8 : Held up really well in the Tour De France. He enjoys short climbs and will be among the main guys at the finish
- Romain Grégoire (Groupama – FDJ) (/) 6 : He is really turning into some rider but his lack of experience in such a race might play against him
There are 3 riders priced at 6 credits who will ease your selectionas each of them has their own chance of winning.
- Felix Gall (AG2R Citroën Team) (/) 6 : It would take a really brave man or a Thibaut Pinot fans not to take him. Showed brillantly strength in the second part of the Tour to take a stage win and finish in the top 10.
- Victor Lafay (Cofidis) (/) 6 : Started the Tour in brillant fashion before going out following a crash, Has he recovered fully? not sure
- Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) (/) 6 : Second at Prueba Villafranca – Ordiziako Klasika (1.1) on Tuesday. Form is definitely here!
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