Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso come together again in Clásica San Sebastián after their last meeting during the Giro d'Italia.
The 2025 Clásica San Sebastián is shaping up to be an exciting race, with Team UAE's Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso emerging as the pre-eminent favourites.
Isaac del Toro, a 21-year-old Mexican rider, has had an outstanding season, winning nearly all races he has participated in since the Giro d'Italia. His strong climbing ability suits the demanding route of the Clásica San Sebastián, which features significant elevation gain. Del Toro notably placed fourth in the Tour de France and has shown great form throughout the year, positioning him as the betting favourite heading into the race.
Juan Ayuso, also part of UAE, has not raced since his Giro d’Italia withdrawal but is expected to be a major competitor upon his return. At just 21 years old with high-level experience, including a near win at the Giro, Ayuso is seen as a strong contender who can challenge on the steep climbs and explosive finishes typical of San Sebastián.
The final ascent over Murgil-Tontorra will bring the leaders into descent down towards the San Sebastián finish. Along the way, the riders will face the well-known Jaizkibel and Erlaitz climbs, which are set to split the pack in the final 60km of the race.
Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso will compete together for the first time since the Giro d'Italia. They will be joined by a strong UAE Team squad, including Jan Christen, Alessandro Covi, Domen Novak, and Jay Vine. Other notable contenders for the Clásica San Sebastián include Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) and Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost).
Primoz Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is one of the biggest rivals for the Clásica San Sebastián, adding to the excitement for the race.
Isaac Del Toro expressed his excitement about returning to San Sebastián for the Clásica San Sebastián, stating, "I am thrilled to be racing in San Sebastián again. The crowd is always amazing, and I can't wait to see what the race has in store for us this year."
The Clásica San Sebastián will be decided over a 211.4km course through the challenging Basque hills, making it a race not to be missed. Juan Ayuso will use the race as part of his approach to a home Grand Tour appearance at the Vuelta a España, while several members of the UAE Team's squad for the Clásica San Sebastián will also participate in the Vuelta a España.
Juan Ayuso will remain a UAE rider until 2028, and he will co-lead with João Almeida at the Vuelta a España. However, Juan Ayuso has reportedly hired a new manager, Giovanni Lombardi, to pursue a move away from UAE Team Emirates, which could change the dynamics of the team heading into the Clásica San Sebastián and beyond.
[1] Cycling Weekly
[2] Cyclingnews
[3] Cycling Weekly
[4] Cycling Weekly
[5] Cyclingnews
Road cycling is a sport that the 2025 Clásica San Sebastián will showcase, featuring prominent cyclists like Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso. The race, with its challenging Basque hills and significant elevation gain, places an emphasis on strong climbers like the UAE's Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso.
