Place Name: Avenida Rey Juan Carlos I
Address: Avenida Rey Juan Carlos I 55, 04740 Roquetas de Mar, Almería, Spain
Details: February 16, 2025
There is a long list of top sprint talent that has won the Clasica de Almeria and that should not change when the bunch hits the finish line in Roquetas de Mar. The route takes the riders from sea level in Puebla de Vícar up to the Alto de Celine at 500M elevation but that tops out just 47KM into the race before coming back down to the ocean front through miles of green houses for a few laps of a city circuit.
Beautiful skies and unseasonably warm weather got a break going early including Victor Vercouillie of Flanders-Baloise, Joan Albert Riera, Joan Gamundi, and Edgar Curto of Illes Balears Arabay, Ibai Azanza of Equipo Kern Pharma, and Luca Paletti of VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè. Their maximum lead was 2 minutes 30 seconds but the gap was down to 90 seconds with 78KM to go. Tudor Pro Cycling, Cofidis, and Lotto were doing the chasing but had the situation well in hand. As the riders approached the more urban area of Roquetas de Mar, the road furniture became more complicated which pushed more teams to the front in an effort to stay safe. The constant push brought the gap under 30 seconds with 49KM to go. The break hit the finish line to start their circuits with 25.5KM but only 15 seconds on the bunch.
Vercouille was the last man caught from the break with 18KM to go as the peloton were all getting in color order on wide open 3 lane roads. Large swings across the peloton nearly caused a number of crashes as the movements rippled through the bunch and became more severe for riders sitting near the back. Polti-VisitMalta led through 1 lap to go with Q36.5 and Movistar lined up behind. The final 2KM were a constant fight for position but it was very difficult with the traffic furniture and round-abouts every few hundred meters.
XDS-Astana led through the final right corner before the road straightened to the line with 400M left. When Gleb Syritsa pulled off at 170M, Max Kanter started his sprint. The road widened and there were riders spread 10 wide. Milan Fretin of Cofidis came off Kanter's wheel and timed his effort perfectly to take a highly competitive win. Emilien Jeannière of TotalEnergies came across third behind Kanter with a mass of sprinters just behind.
Tags: Clasica de Almeria, 2025, February, Puebla de Vícar, Roquetas de Mar, Victor Vercouillie, Joan Albert Riera, Joan Gamundi, Edgar Curto, Ibai Azanza, Luca Paletti, Gleb Syritsa, Max Kanter, Milan Fretin, Emilien Jeannière