Romain Grégoire snatches top 15 in San Sebastian

# Romain Grégoire Battles to 15th in Thrilling Klasikoa San Sebastián

Just days after the conclusion of the Tour de France, Romain Grégoire showcased his tenacity at the Klasikoa San Sebastián, securing a commendable fifteenth place. Despite not being part of the leading packs following the pivotal Erlaitz climb, the French cyclist persevered to the end in Spain’s premier WorldTour event.

The Klasikoa San Sebastián returned to its traditional slot on the cycling calendar, occurring right after the Tour de France—a shift from its previous postponement due to the Olympic Games. This year’s race featured a diverse lineup, with participants including those fresh from the “Grande Boucle” and others easing back into competition. Grégoire was the sole representative from the Groupama-FDJ team following his Tour participation, riding alongside teammates who had recently competed in the Tour de Wallonie or completed training camps in the Alps.

The race commenced with a twelve-man breakaway that struggled to gain a significant advantage over the peloton, which managed to keep the lead to a maximum of three minutes. However, the dynamics shifted when Kevin Geniets from Grégoire’s team was forced to abandon after a crash.

As the race progressed, a crucial point came at the Jaizkibel, often a significant selection point. Philippe Mauduit, the team’s director, noted, “We know that the Jaizkibel traditionally makes an initial selection, but that the truly strategic point is the Erlaitz climb.” With this in mind, the team positioned Grégoire strategically before tackling the climbs.

Grégoire displayed commendable form on the Erlaitz climb, where he initially latched onto the attack of Primoz Roglic, but struggled to maintain pace with the subsequent offensive. “Romain managed to hang on to the right groups in the first part of the climb, then he cracked a bit about one kilometre from the summit,” explained Mauduit.

As the race evolved, the peloton fractured into smaller groups, with Grégoire finishing the climb approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds behind the leading duo of Isaac del Tor and Giulio Ciccone. Although the groups battled on the flat roads following Erlaitz, the attack from the leaders proved uncatchable.

At the finish line in San Sebastián, Grégoire made a final push, sprinting ahead to secure 15th place, merely two minutes after the day’s winner, Ciccone. Mauduit commented on the race’s unpredictability, particularly after such a challenging Tour: “When you come out of the Tour, it’s always a bit of a lottery… Romain still bears some scars from his crash. We know he doesn’t make excuses, but I think it still had a small impact.”

He concluded, “We are where we belong given the circumstances of the day and the approach we had to this race.” Grégoire’s performance reflects his determination and resilience in the face of demanding racing conditions, positioning him as a rider to watch in future competitions.