Columbia look to Sivtsov in Clasica

HTC-Columbia are confident that Kanstantsin Sivtsov can upset the big names on show at Saturday's Clasica San Sebastian.

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Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck, fresh from their battle for overall honours at the Tour de France, will be at the start as will Denis Menchov who completed the podium in Paris.

Home favourite Samuel Sanchez will be looking to gain victory for Euskaltel on home soil with Ivan Basso, Joaquin Rodriguez, Levi Leipheimer, Ryder Hesjedal, Nicolas Roche, Carlos Sastre, Damiano Cunego and Philippe Gilbert are also in a star studded line-up.

Carlos Barredo defends his title over a course which features four major climbs in the last 50 kilometres including a double ascent of the first category Jaizkebel climb.

And HTC-Columbia sports director Allan Peiper thinks changes to the route will suit his men especially Belarus champion Sivtsov.

"They've completely restructured the last part of the course, with a double ascent of the Jaizkebel climb, and that makes it far more likely we see a move of a just a few riders at the head of the race staying away," Peiper said.

"For Michael Rogers and Kanstantsin Sivtsov, that's good, because they've come out of the Tour de France with that extra racing form you always get from racing a major stage race.

"Kanstantsin is in particularly good shape. He always keeps his cool in tricky finishes, too, and this very hilly new finale is a bit like the stage of the Tour of Italy he won a couple of years back.

"We know the Spanish will be very motivated - they always are for San Sebastian. But we'll be trying as hard as we can to get in those late breaks so we've got a fighting chance."