By Shane Stokes
Eddie Dunbar has been forced to exit the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana on what was a day ideally suited to his talents, with ongoing pain causing him to play things safe.
Dunbar hit the deck on Wednesday’s opening stage of the Spanish event, hurting his left hand, but finished in a select front group of 62 riders.
A team spokesman indicated on Wednesday evening he would continue on Thursday, a day which includes one first category climb and four second category ascents, including the summit finish to Alto de Pinos.
However Jayco-AlUla announced on social media on Thursday morning that plans had changed. “Unfortunately Eddie Dunbar will not take to the start line of today’s stage two in Valencia after suffering with some pain and stiffness in his hand, caused by his crash during yesterday’s stage one.
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“Time to rest, recover and be 100% for the next race.”
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Speaking to Stickybottle, a team spokesperson explained what will happen next. “He’s going home. He has only pain, if the pain continues in the next days he will do more exams. The X-ray [on Wednesday] was negative.”
Dunbar’s early season programme sees the UAE Tour as his next event. That starts on February 20th.
It remains to be seen if that is under threat or, providing his recovery goes well, if Dunbar might ride another event before that one.
The team spokesman indicated things will become more clear in that regard over the coming days.
Dunbar is a team leader for the first time this season, having moved to Jayco-AlUla after four years riding for others at Team Sky/Ineos Grenadiers.
While the Giro d’Italia in May is his main target, he had hoped to show well in the races beforehand, with the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana presenting an opportunity to test his form after several months preparing for the new season.
