Just nine months ago Conor Dunne’s world crashed down around his ears with the unfortunate news that Aqua Blue Sport had collapsed.
The big man, from an Irish family in Britain and who
has in recent years taken Carrick-on-Suir as his second home, had just had a
whirlwind few months.
On July 1st he won the Irish title; a
major boost for him and his team. Sadly, just six weeks later and having
extended with Aqua Blue Sport for two more years, he was out of a job.
A ride in the Tour of Britain was taken away, as his
team stopped immediately and did not ride any more races.
There was only one thing for it; pack up his bike
and kit and go on a NoGo Tour – a European bike packing trip with Aqua Blue
Sport team mate Larry Warbasse.
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With great cheer and not insignificant wit, Dunne
journey around Europe on his bike with his American mate and lit up social
media with tales of their journey and the many mishaps along the way.
After the trip was done he was selected for the World Championships and spent the day in the breakaway; as is his wont.
When news came through that Israel Cycling Academy has signed him; it was perhaps the most popular new contract of the off-season.
Dunne had won many friends for his positive outlook during his tough time, all of whom were delighted to see him find a new team.
It meant having imagined his time in the pro bunch
may be at an end, he was back on the road again.
Rick Delaney’s Aqua Blue Sport honoured the
financial contract it had signed with Dunne, helping his move along in his new
team.
That gesture by Delaney perhaps shaved some of the
sharp edges off the team collapse of last August.
And yesterday Dunne, who became a father for the first time a few weeks ago, made the most of his new chance; getting up the road in the Irish champion’s jersey on stage 12 of Giro d’Italia.
He was among more than 20 men who surged over 15
minutes clear of the peloton. And while he lost contact on the steep cat 1
climb with just over 40km to go, he survived out front.
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Just Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) and Mikel Landa
(Movistar) caught him, right on the finish line.
In the end Dunne was 20th on the stage;
some 7:36 down on the five men from the original breakaway sprinting for
victory. His compatriot Eddie Dunbar (Team Ineos) was 3rd after a
super rider.
“I was a nice day, I enjoyed it,” Dunne said of
being out front in a Grand Tour just months after thinking the end of his pro
career may have been landed on him.
“Last October, me and my friend Larry (Warbasse) did
a little adventure which we called the NoGo Tour. And the first stage finished
in Saluzzo and came onto these roads.
“So it was a little surreal today to be in the
breakaway in the Giro d’Italia six months later. I was, like, ‘I wish we could
have stopped for a glass of wine like me and Larry did’.
“But sadly we were racing. I felt good though today.
I plan was to get Kristian (Sbaragli) or Ruben (Plaza) or Krists (Neilands) in
the break.
“I just followed (the moves) at the start and
slipped away and it was a big group. It was really strange.
“It was really easy in the break, just rolling
through and we got 15 minutes. I gave it a go survive on the climb but it was
too steep for a big guy like me.
“So I just hacked around and enjoyed the day. I was
nice to get the Irish champs jersey – the Irish champs-Israeli jersey – up the
road.”
Dunne said he was also delighted to be riding the
Giro, especially after the issues of last year.
“I’m enjoying it. I’m loving being here with Israel
Cycling having me here; there’s a great group of riders and staff.
“Everyone is really working hard and we’re really
pushing. It’s not just all having fun, we’re really pushing for a win.
“I think we can still do it. There’s a lot of stages
to come where we could do it. And we’ll keep on trying to see what happens.
“Tomorrow’s another day but I think I’ll have about
five ham sandwiches first.”
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