Dunbar dominant from international field at Errigal Youth Tour opener

By Brian Canty

The Errigal International Youth Tour has gotten off to a magnificent start in Donegal with big crowds, huge numbers of riders and superb racing.

Eddie Dunbar from Kanturk stole the show with an awesome ride to win the U16 race on his own and he takes a hefty lead into this morning’s second stage.

Dunbar, who has been earmarked as one rider with a huge future attacked on the second of five laps and steadily increased his lead over the remaining three laps and eventually coming in almost two and a half minutes ahead of second placed Hamish McCarrick from the Edinburgh CC team. South African rider Stefan Debod, who eventually finished fourth, was the first to make an attack of note on the day but Dunbar allowed him little leeway and as soon as he was reeled in, Dunbar went and wasn’t seen again.

There were five laps of a nine kilometre course in total and when Dunbar made his move, no one responded, or could respond and he soloed to yet another excellent victory. Though a chase group of three did form, they were never likely to bridge across, such was the pace of Dunbar. FBD Talent Team rider Mark Downey did notch third place on the stage and he’ll be looking for a stage win before the race concludes tomorrow.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

The Errigal club from Churchill, eight miles outside Letterkenny has taken over the mantle of running a ‘Grand Tour’ event for the youths of the country from what was formerly the Mayo Youth Tour and the club that is only in existence since 2008 certainly didn’t disappoint.

There were teams from South Africa, Scotland, Spain, and the UK at the start line yesterday morning – a superb endorsement for the race, and they certainly added a huge international flavour only for Dunbar to spoil their ambitions in the big race of the day.

The U14 event had to be restarted following a crash at the first corner of the event when several riders came down in the collision but there were no serious injuries to report.

When it did get underway it was Jake Gray from Cycling Ulster who gave the home support something to cheer about when he won in a sprint from a seven-man breakaway.

In the U12 race an early break of four riders went away on the first and only lap. The race came down to a sprint which was won in fine fashion by William Draper of the Royal London 360 Isle of Man team with PJ Doogan from the local club in second place.

Doogan had more reason to be happy with his days’ work when he also claimed the King of the Mountains jersey.

Today all riders will tackle a time trial in the morning and a road stage in the afternoon, while on Monday they will race one more road stage.

Results

U12

U14

U16

Female