UAE Team Emirates-XRG readies up for one-day tests in the Basque Country

Ahead of the pair of prestigious one-day races in the Basque Country, UAE Team Emirates-XRG is pleased to confirm its lineups for both the Clásica San Sebastián and the Circuito de Getxo.

The Clásica San Sebastián is first up on Saturday, 1 August, and the Emirati squad will return with last year’s runner-up, Jan Christen. The recently-crowned Swiss national road race champion will be part of a powerful UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad that will hope to add to its victory from the 2024 edition.

Won by Marc Hirschi two years ago, the Clásica San Sebastián will host its 45th edition this time out, and see UAE Team Emirates-XRG led by Sports Directors Tomas Gil and Marco Marcato in the team car. At their disposal will be Christen and his teammates Igor Arrieta, Benoît Cosnefroy, Jhonatan Narváez, Pavel Sivakov, Kevin Vermaerke, and Jay Vine.

Vine will be making his much-welcome return to racing following his rehabilitation from a race-ending crash suffered on stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia. Narváez, who went on to win three stages in Italy, will be making his first appearance since the Tour de Suisse.

Elsewhere, Arrieta comes to the Basque Country fresh from a runner-up spot at the Clásica Ordizia, where the Spaniard raced on the front foot alongside the American, Vermaerke. Cosnefroy will make his Clásica San Sebastián debut on Saturday, with Sivakov looking to put his legs to the test after a productive spell of training across Andorra.

The Clásica San Sebastián is often a great meeting point between those holding their form from the Tour de France, and those beginning their build towards the Vuelta a España – making for an exciting combination.

Last season, it was Christen who impressed most for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, with the Swiss rider making a series of bold attacks that ultimately delivered him to second place on the Boulevard de San Sebastián. That day, the 22-year-old was only bettered by Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek.

This time out, there have been minor changes to last year’s route, with the riders heading slightly further west between kilometres 5-75, but otherwise it is a traditional Clásica San Sebastián course.

Beginning and ending in San Sebastián, the 221.2km-long route includes a whopping 4,050m of elevation gain. Two uncategorised climbs get the day underway within the first 45km, before a further seven categorised climbs are scattered across the parcours.

The crux of the route begins after 150km, when the riders begin to climb the Jaizkibel, which stands at 5.4% for 8km. This tough category two ascent is quickly followed by the Erlaitz, which averages a whopping 11% for 3.8km. Summitted with around 40km to ride, the Erlaitz usually draws plenty of attacks, and we can expect this year’s race to be no different.

A quick descent follows the climb, before a near 20km stretch of rolling roads.

To provide one final twist, the Murgil Tontorra (2km at 9.8%) comes after 211km, and ends with just 8km to ride to the finish. This brute of a climb certainly offers one final point of rupture for those vying for victory.

A day after the Clásica San Sebastián, the Circuito de Getxo will be held in the Basque town on the outskirts of Bilbao. First raced in 1924, the Circuito de Getxo is also known as the Memorial Hermanos Otxoa, with the race dedicated to the memories of former cyclist Ricardo Otxoa and his twin brother Javier, who died in a crash in 2001.

Hosting its 81st edition this year, the Circuito de Getxo will provide its usual challenges to the peloton. Standing at 175.4km and with a little over 2,200m of elevation gain, the race is suited to the Classics specialists who are equally adept on short, punchy climbs.

Perhaps the most decisive point on the route will be the tough slopes of the Alto de Pike, which stands at 9.3% for 2.1km, and was used on the opening day of the 2024 Tour de France.

After a tough afternoon in the saddle, the day’s honours will ultimately be decided on an uphill finish to the line in Getxo. Here, the successor to Isaac del Toro will be crowned, with the Mexican having won last year’s race for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

Victories from Del Toro in 2025 and Juan Ayuso in 2022 offer UAE Team Emirates-XRG plenty of good memories at the Circuito de Getxo, but it will be up to a new crop of riders to seek the same success this time out.

Arrieta, Sivakov, Vermaerke and Vine will continue from the Clásica San Sebastián to the Circuito de Getxo, where they will be joined by teammates António Morgado, Domen Novak, and Marcos Freire (Gen Z).

As for the team car, directions will be given by Sports Directors Marco Marcato and Aner Moreno.