Eddie Dunbar said if his first race for NFTO had finished on the top of the climb, he may have done better than 3rd on the day (Photo: VeloUK.net)
Eddie Dunbar has said he was content with his 3rd place in Sunday’s Severn Bridge Road Race near Bristol in England but believes he could have done better had the race finished on the climb on the 10km course.
Dunbar was aggressive through the 100km early season contest and finally pulled clear in a winning three-man move with George Harper and Yanto Barker, both of whom ride for the ONE Pro Cycling team.
The Irish man has just moved out of the junior ranks and into the NFTO UK-based Continental team. But his performance was that of a much more seasoned rider at this level.
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He told VeloUK.net he hoped for more in coming weeks when his fitness improved.
“It was a good race” said Dunbar, who was riding his first race for NFTO.
“I’m happy with where I am at the moment even though not fully 100 per cent. It was a good day out.
“I really enjoyed it and fair play to the One boys there; they rode a good race and they came out on top but hopefully in a few weeks, it will be us on top.
“They attacked me and after a 100 metres, I counter attacked and that quietened them a bit and they didn’t attack me again.
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Dunbar may have hoped for more, but his 3rd place was an excellent result in his first race since progressing from the junior ranks to the UK elite scene over the winter months (Photo: VeloUK.net)
“I wouldn’t class myself as a sprinter but if the race had finished at the top (of the climb on the course), it might have been a different result. But I’m happy with third place.”
Dunbar had clearly impressed those he was in the breakaway with.
“I went off with Eddie, who’s bloody strong, a few laps in and we were away for a lap,” race winner Harper told VeloUK.net.
“Eddie was outnumbered and we worked him over a bit.”
Runner-up Barker was full of praise for the Irish teenager.
“I put in a dig in (last time up the hill) and went all the way to the top and Eddie attacked over the top of me and went pretty hard but George was on him and I stayed there with the two of them,” he said.
“He’s a talented boy that Eddie. I’m going to look forward to watching him progress.
“And he could definitely benefit from a bit more calculation in the way he rides. He’s a good kid and really wants to race and that’s good to see.”
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