On the eve of his biggest race of the year, those managing Eddie Dunbar within Cycling Ireland are convinced he can go all the way tomorrow (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
By Brian Canty
Cycling Ireland coach, Neill Delahaye believes rising star Eddie Dunbar has the potential to medal in tomorrow’s junior road race at the World Championships in Spain.
“Having looked at his competitors, having seen him on the national and international stage, knowing what he can do, the type of circuit it is on Saturday; he has the potential to podium,” he said.
Delahaye added while 18-year-old Dunbar had displayed his medal potential all year, a top five or top 10 placing would still be a great result tomorrow.
“He’s a different rider this year to last,” he said.
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“He has better skills, he’s much smarter, he knows who to look out for, he rides clever and I think if it comes together for him on the day he can certainly go for the podium."
Junior Tour of Ireland winner and national road champion, Dunbar will lead the five-man Irish team of Dylan O’Brien, Michael O’Loughlin, Daire Feeley and Stephen Shanahan in the 127 kilometre event on what is a very difficult course.
“The course is pretty much up and then straight down, it is tough,” explained Delahaye of the 18.2km lap in Ponferrada.
“For the amount of laps they have, that climb is going to take its toll. But I think it suits Dunbar. He needs to stay in contention towards the front part of the field and bide his time.
“For juniors it’s a long race and Eddie does have a great aerobic capacity and we know he doesn’t fade. But you’ve only so many matches to burn so we’ll be encouraging him to hold fire until the end.”
Eddie Dunbar, far left, leads the team also comprising Stephen Shanahan, Daire Feeley, Dylan O'Brien and Michael O'Loughlin (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Dunbar loves to attack and has often won from solo breaks, but Delahaye has said it will be impossible for him to ride that way tomorrow.
“He’s not going to ride away from a world class field, no one can,” he said.
“That’s impossible and he knows that from the racing he’s done. But, he would always look to get in a move and if there are competitive guys going up the road maybe he’ll get in with that.
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“I don’t want to discourage him from the way he usually races but he’s going to have to be cautious enough to save his energy for when he really needs it.”
The other riders on the team will be crucial to Dunbar’s efforts to save energy.
“It’s a tight group, they’ve a lot of experience even though they’re a young group,” said Delahaye of the team.
“They have been racing together since they were 12 or 13 so they know each other very well. They’ve developed and grown up together. But even guys who’ve come in a bit later like Daire (Feeley); he’s still been racing with them a long time.
“They’ve brought each other along, they’re racing hard together, getting faster and they’re a group that are really prepared to sacrifice themselves for each other.
Michael O'Loughlin is clearly motoring and he may surprise a few people in tomorrow's war of attrition (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“And I think that’s important more than people realise. You do see the stronger nations always coming to the fore at these big events because they usually have enough strength in depth and numbers to be able to protect a rider or two.
“It’s a war of attrition so if you can do something to keep your stronger guys out of the wind, get them a bottle or be there to give them a wheel it makes a difference.
“It’s all about conserving, conserving because generally what happens; guys go off the back rather than off the front in the really hard races. So if you can keep them towards that front end for as long as possible and save as much energy as possible, the team role becomes important.”
Michael O’Loughlin’s performance in the junior men’s time-trial has given the squad a huge lift this week and Delahaye said the Carrick teenager was in great condition.
“He’s just gotten stronger and stronger and I was really impressed with him Tuesday,” he said.
“We had hoped he’d go well but a top 10 as a first year might be a little bit out of his reach we thought. But he pulled it out of the bag and I think he was inspired by what Ryan (Mullen) did and that gives everyone belief.
“Sometimes there’s not much in it, except for what’s going on in their head. But to get the physical effort out of him as well, that’s all to play for him in the next couple of years. He should be a podium contender next year.”
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