The Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior takes place on the 16th of February and is one of the most unique races in the calendar. The Spanish one-day is the most similar all-year long to Strade Bianche and provides an unique opportunity to race in the gravel and steep hills right before the Italian classic. We preview the race ahead.

The addition of the Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior to the calendar has been an absolute success, with its many gravel sectors providing for a different early-season challenge; which is used as many riders as a serious goal, and for others as the most specific preparation possible ahead of Strade Bianche – whilst it is included in the middle of other Spanish events that take place in the same time period.

Alexey Lutsenko won the first edition in 2022, and Tadej Pogacar won it back in 2023, bringing the race to the absolute spotlight of the cycling world for a brief period of time. Oier Lazkano won the 2024 edition with a breakthrough breakaway exhibition – which cannot be looked at in the same way now, following his suspension by the UCI – whilst 12 months ago it was former World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski who soared back to have a strong comeback win.


Download the startlist in A4. Tom Pidcock of Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is the big headliner for the race but by no means the only big favourite. UAE Team Emirates – XRG have Tim Wellens, Marc Soler and Julius Johansen who dominated the Vuelta a Murcia plus Jan Christen on the startlist.

Bahrain – Victorious have Matej Mohoric and Pello Bilbao; Movistar have Iván Romeo and Roger Adrià, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe have Giulio Pellzzari, Gianni Vermeersch and Maxim van Gils; whilst Soudal – Quick-Step is also giving the race World Tour representation.

Startlist Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior 2026

UAE Team Emirates XRG

1 Wellens, Tim

2 Johansen, Julius

3 Soler, Marc

4 Novak, Domen

5 Cosnefroy, Benoît

6 Christen, Jan

7 Arrieta, Igor

Movistar Team

11 Adrià, Roger

12 Barrenetxea, Jon

13 Canal, Carlos

14 Romeo, Iván

15 Serrano, Gonzalo

16 Cubillas, Javier

17 Villate, Ibai

Bahrain Victorious

21 Bilbao, Pello

22 Borgo, Alessandro

23 Govekar, Matevž

24 Mohorič, Matej

25 Bruttomesso, Alberto

26 Valter, Attila

27 Stockwell, Oliver

Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe

31 Pellizzari, Giulio

32 Gils, Maxim Van

33 Etxeberria, Haimar

34 Aleotti, Giovanni

35 Hajek, Alexander

36 Boichis, Adrien

37 Vermeersch, Gianni

Soudal – Quick-Step

41 Pedersen, Casper

42 Raccagni, Andrea

43 Svrček, Martin

44 Zafra, Marc

45 Schoofs, Jasper

46 Soenens, Viktor

47 Valjavec, Erazem

Caja Rural – Seguros RGA

51 Arriolabengoa, Julen

52 Villar, Iker

53 Corres, Gorka

54 Fernández CJR, Samuel

55 Lospitao, Pablo

56 Larronde, Ellande

57 Nicolau, Joel

Burgos Burpellet BH

61 Fernández, Sinuhé

62 De La Calle, Hugo

63 Diaz, José Manuel

64 Alleno, Clément

65 Rey, Martín

66 Burnett, Josh

67 Kmínek, Vojtěch

Pinarello – Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team

71 Pidcock, Tom

72 Donovan, Mark

73 Małecki, Kamil

74 Meurisse, Xandro

75 Hermans, Quinten

76 Gendt, Aimé De

77 Vader, Milan

Equipo Kern Pharma

81 Berrade, Urko

82 Ruiz, Ibon

83 Perez, César

84 Retegi, Mikel

85 Azanza, Ibai

86 Ramos, Unai

87 Martín, José María

Bardiani CSF 7 Saber

91 Conforti, Lorenzo

92 Magli, Filippo

93 Martinelli, Alessio

94 Marcellusi, Martin

95 Paletti, Luca

96 Turconi, Filippo

97 Rojas, Vicente

Unibet Rose Rockets

101 Toupalík, Adam

102 Venturini, Clément

103 Bloem, Joren

104 Feldmann, Karsten Larsen

105 Verschuren, Killian

106 Kopecký, Matyáš

107 Kubiš, Lukáš

Team Flanders – Baloise

111 Deman, Brem

112 Hesters, Jules

113 Huysmans, Nolan

114 Torney, Artuur

115 Geeraerts, Ferre

116 Vanhoof, Ward

117 Vercouillie, Victor

Euskaltel – Euskadi

121 Lastra, Jonathan

122 Aznar, Unai

123 Fernández EUS, Samuel

124 Tuuk, Axel van der

125 Sutton, Louis

126 Ugarte, Gari

127 Aguirre, Yago

Meridian Racing pb de la Uz

131 Lamothe, Hubert

132 Roy, Jacob

133 Lebo, Joshua

134 Doyle, Leo

135 Juracich, Ben

136 Noori, James

137 Rohde, Jade

Lucky Sport Cycling Team

141 Evertsen-Hegreberg, Simen

142 Kagevi, Carl

143 Källberg, Axel

144 Klyver, Hjalmar

145 Lennartsson, Hugo

146 Mellby, Joel

147 Strand, Peder Dahl

Selección Española Sub-23

151 García, Alvaro

152 Diaz, Dario

153 Urkaregi, Eñaut

154 Loaisa, Ivan

155 Torres, Marc

156 Fernández, Francisco Jesús

157 Jiménez, José Ramón

Anicolor – Campicarn

161 Fernández, Rubén

162 Lopez de Abetxuko, Andoni

163 Silva, João

164 Oliveira, Gonçalo

165 Teixeira, Bernardo

166 Martínez, Victor

167 Obholzer, Theodor