This annual race which starts in San Sebastian in the Basque Country and finishes in Donstia, some 219.2kms later, attracted a very strong field with British riders Adam and Simon Yates of Orica Green Edge and Irishmen Nicholas Roche of Tinkoff-Saxo and Danny Martin of Garmin-Sharp amongst those who started.
Amets Txurruka of Caja Rural attacked on his own early on and was allowed to get 6.40 clear after 71kms.
He battled on and stayed away until the sixty kilometres to go mark when he was caught by the peloton which has seen Peter Sagan of Cannondale abandon.
The most aggressive rider in the Tour De France - Allesandro De Marchi of Cannondale, Lopez, Visconti, and Montaguti took over on the front and were joined by Ten Dam, Bakelants and Losada with 44kms to go.
They stayed away until the 32kms to go mark when they were caught and Andriy Grivko of Astana attacked with a raid that last until he was passed with 13.5kms to go.
On the final climb - the Bordako Tontorra, Joaquin Rodriquez and Alejandro Valverde got together with 7km to go. They did not get too far away and were joined by Mikel Nieve (Team Sky), Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge) and Bauke Mollema (Belkin).
Yates crashed with four left and Valverde attacked and went away to win in 5.31.11, some fourteen seconds ahead of Mollema, Rodriquez and Nieve.
Nicholas Roche finished 20th, Danny Martin finished 25th and Adam Yates finished 43rd.
Valverde said after the race: "Finshing fourth in the Tour De France was a thorn. "Not so much a thorn off you take off, as I have shown throughout the year how I am. It is something that stayed with me and left me with a bad taste for being so close to the podium of the Tour.
"San Sebastián is a race I like, especially with this win. It is my second victory here plus two other podiums. We have ten wins already this year and I am placed first in theWorldTour so I can only be happy"
Source: DSG
