2009 Clásica de San Sebastián

As the race was under the auspices of the UCI ProTour, all eighteen ProTour teams were invited automatically. An additional wildcard invitation was given to Contentpolis-Ampo, a Professional Continental team, to form the event's 19-team peloton.

The 19 teams invited to the race are:

Teams consisted of up to eight riders, and 143 riders started the event. The event takes place less than a week after the conclusion of the 2009 Tour de France, and many of the riders who took part in that event, were scheduled for this race, including all but three of the top fifteen finishers,[1] although a number of the higher profile riders withdrew in the last few days before the event, including the suspended local rider, Mikel Astarloza.

The route is an anticlockwise loop, heading southwest from San Sebastián, reaching its highest point, and its farthest from the city at the Alto de Udana (574 m). It then heads back towards the southern suburbs of the start town, before heading east through the Jaizkibel mountains to Hondarribia on the French border, and then back to San Sebastián.[2]

As well as the overall race, there are prizes available for amassing most points at five intermediate sprints around the course, and for gaining points at the top of six mountain passes and hilltops.