Marc Hirschi achieves a victory at World Tour level for the first time in almost four years. The rider from Bern wins the one-day classic in San Sebastian in a two-man sprint against Julian Alaphilippe.
10.08.2024, 16:53
10.08.2024, 17:17
SDA
Hirschi and Alaphilippe, the 2021 and 2020 road world champion, had broken away on the final climb of the 236 km race. Only Hirschi was able to follow the Frenchman's attack around 9 km before the finish. In the sprint, the 25-year-old Swiss rider held off his six-year-old rival to celebrate his biggest triumph since the Flèche Wallonne at the end of September 2020.
The duo's first pursuer, Belgian Lennert van Eetvelt, crossed the finish line seven seconds behind. Jan Christen, who like Hirschi rides for UAE Team Emirates, also finished in the top 10 in ninth place (0:36 back).
Hirschi is only the second Swiss rider to win the Clasica San Sebastian. Niki Rüttimann secured victory in the Basque Country 40 years ago.
