IN PICTURES: CLÁSICA SAN SEBASTIÁN

The warm Spanish climate and chilled-out feel make the one-day race the perfect antidote to the bustle of the Tour de France

This isn’t Spain, it’s the Basque Country. After arriving at the startline far too early to collect accreditation, I got a reminder that in Spain – sorry, the Basque Country – the attitude is even more laid back than usual. The permanence opened 20 minutes before sign-on. Following the Clásica by car is almost as complicated as the area’s politics. The 220km race route criss-crossed the region’s motorways. Two locals agreed I could follow them. They told me they were aiming to see the race nine times.

The local Basque teams lining up alongside WorldTour stars received equal if not more admiration from the local crowd. Fans mingled with riders among the team buses. The big teams were operating on a skeleton staff. After rolling around the beautiful Bahía de la Concha bay, on which San Sebastian sits, the race quickly got into the hills. It was a lush green landscape reminiscent of any alpine scene. If you were blindfolded and dropped off in some remote spot you would swear you were in Switzerland.

Unsurprisingly, a break made up mainly of Basque teams set the early pace. The peloton tapped away behind, in no hurry to reel them in. There wasn’t much action for a lot of the race. Only in the last few kilometres did the WorldTour teams began to show their hands. A big crash at 20km to go split the field. Riders who dodged the carnage carried on past the finish line for one final loop and the brutal racemaking climb of the Murgil Tontorra. Back at the finish, the locals gathered to see the darling of this year’s Tour de France, Julian Alaphilippe, take the victory.

We didn’t get to nine spots but eight was still an excellent result.

1. After winning the polka dot jersey at the Tour, Julian Alaphilippe still had enough in the tank to win his maiden Clásica San Sebastián 2. Before the race, local Basque riders such as Alex Aranburu were every bit as popular as their WorldTour rivals3. After the crowds and choreography of the Tour, the Clásica’s laid-back vibe was a welcome tonic for battle-weary WorldTour teams 4. At times, the inland Basque Country’s verdant pastures and chalet-style homes recalled scenes from the Alps5. Once the break was established, the WorldTour teams were happy to engage cruise control and monitor the escape’s progress from afar 6. The Clásica San Sebastián has a complex parcours. The race can be seen several times for those able to navigate the region’s roads 7. LottoNL!Jumbo’s Steven Kruijswijk leads Andrey Amador up one of the race’s climbs. Kruijswijk "inished ninth, his best "inish in the event 8. At races beyond their border, Basque fans are famously conspicuous by the Ikurriña, but at the Clásica the "lag was a scarce presence 9. Within 10km a six-man break had established itself. It lacked "irepower and the peloton let the gap yawn to almost eight minutes 10. Out on the course fans gathered in small numbers. At the "inish line, which the race passed twice, riders received an admirable welcome 11. Around 20km from the "inish, a touch of wheels at the front of the peloton triggered a big crash12. Bauke Mollema made the decisive move over the Murgil Tontorra. Alaphilippe followed and the Frenchman easily won the sprint