Blow for Ireland team in Rás as Eddie Dunbar set to miss out

Blow for Ireland team in Rás as Eddie Dunbar set to miss out

Eddie Dunbar will not be at the An Post Rás this year despite being named in the provisional Irish team.

By Brian Canty

Eddie Dunbar has confirmed he will not be doing the An Post Rás this year as it clashes with another race he’s down to do.

Last year’s stage winner had been provisionally named on the Irish national team.

Eddie Dunbar’s coach compares his power to weight data with Wiggins

But he has confirmed to stickybottle that he’s racing in France with Axeon Hagens Berman instead.

He will be sorely missed from the race in Ireland as the course is very much suited to his characteristics.

As a flyweight climber who goes uphill very quickly. He took 4th place overall last year.

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Considering his form to date this season, including his U23 Tour of Flanders victory, he would have gone into the Rás as a stage and overall contender.

There are several stages in Donegal that he certainly would have been one of the favourites for.

However, he will be competing in the Ronde de L’Isard from Thursday May 18^th to Sunday May 21st.

Balancing France and An Post Rás

“I can’t do it because I’ll be France with Axeon (Hagens Berman),” he said of the Rás.

“If it started a day after Ronde de L’Isard I’d definitely have flown back but it’s not.

“It’d have been nice to do it but I’ll definitely be back to do it at some stage of my career.”

We will have a longer piece with Dunbar in a couple of days. He talks about his dream season to date, his plans for the next six weeks and his memories of the late Chad Young.