ORICA-BikeExchange return to the demanding Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian this Saturday with a strong line up including last years winner Adam Yates and twin brother Simon Yates.
The Yates twins both head into the race on the back of good form, which they will no doubt be looking to continue at the weekend.
Adam finished fourth overall at the Tour de France last Sunday and also won the white jersey for the best young rider at the Tour becoming the first Briton to do so. 2015 saw Adam take his first WorldTour victory at San Sebastian after a blistering solo attack on the races final climb.
Whilst on Monday, Simon secured his first professional victory at the tough Spanish one-day event Prueba Villafranca-Ordiziako Klasika after a tremendous solo attack on the final climb.
The Yates twins will be the teams protected riders alongside multiple Tour of Romandie stage winner Michael Albasini and South African Daryl Impey, who both played key supporting roles at the Tour de France.
Sport director Neil Stephens hopes the brothers can carry on this rich vein of form and channel it towards a second success for ORICA-BikeExchange at San Sebastian.
“One of the hardest things in cycling is winning,” said Stephens. “But, one thing even harder is coming back to try and win a second time. We have a difficult task ahead of us but we will be looking for another good result on Saturday.
“Half of the squad are coming into the team after three hard weeks of racing at the Tour de France and obviously there will be some tired legs out there.
“Nevertheless we have a strong and versatile line up and we are highly motivated to try and place Adam and Simon (Yates) in the best possible positions throughout the race.
“They’re both on good form right now and we are aiming for that to continue at the weekend. The change to the final climb may affect our chances a little, but we are ready to give it everything we’ve got to be competitive in the finale.”
More riders coming in from the Tour de France are strong men Luke Durbridge andChris Juul Jensen, whilst Canadian Christian Meier and Spanish climber Amets Txurruka complete the line up.
The Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian is Spain’s most prestigious one-day race and traditionally precludes Vuelta-Borgos and the third Grand Tour of the season, the Vuleta a Espana.
Traditionally a climbers race and held annually in the Basque region of Northern Spain it covers 220kilometres around the hilly coastline. The finale of the 2016 race is slightly different to previous editions and includes a steep climb in the last 16kilometres, the Murgil Bidea.
ORICA-BikeExchange at Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian, (Sat, 30th July):
Michael Albasini (SUI, 35)
Luke Durbridge(AUS, WA, 25)
Daryl Impey (RSA, 30)
Chris Juul Jensen (DEN, 26)
Christian Meier (CAN, 31)
Amets Txurruka (ESP, 32)
Adam Yates (GBR, 23)
Simon Yates (GBR, 23)
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