Eddie Dunbar said he has no regrets over the way he rode the men's U23 road race at the World Championships. He believes it was far better to get out in a break than to sit in the bunch and roll home well down the field (Picture: Sirotti)
By Brian Canty
Eddie Dunbar has said he has no regrets about how he rode last night’s U23 road race at the World Championships in Richmond.
The 19-year-old NFTO Pro Cycling rider infiltrated the break and worked hard for around 70 kilometres.
But the considerable effort he made to do so took a heavy toll and he eventually became distanced from the group, finishing over 10 minutes back in 108th.
“I’m fairly tired now, it was a hard effort and when I started my legs weren’t great,” he said.
Advertisement
“I was going to wait and see how I’d go but immediately I didn’t feel the best.
“So instead of rolling around and finishing in 30th place I wanted to make the race a bit and I’m happy with how I rode.”
Dunbar went across to a group of four with four others and for a spell there were nine up front.
A further reshuffling – mainly because of Dunbar’s strong pace-setting - saw a new group of five form.
“It was hard, the cobbles killed me in the break and against the bigger lads it was harder again,” he explained of the course with some cobbled inclines on each 15km circuit.
“Realistically, on a cobbled course it’s harder for me; it’s not like I’m going to fly over them.
“You don’t see guys of my build winning races like Paris-Roubaix. It was a good day out for me.”
Dunbar leads the breakaway. He said finishing around 30th was the best he could ever have hoped for so he decided to have a go and make an impression on the race rather than simply ride around (Photo: Sirotti)
One man who bore the brunt of Dunbar's anger was Italian Davide Martinelli after he refused to do any work in the break.
“It was annoying but it’s bike racing and I’m sure he was told the tactic for him was not to work if he got away.
“I told him what I thought of him a few times but it doesn’t register with fellas, it was like talking to the wall.
“That’s part and parcel of it. But having said that, I probably did a bit too much.
“The guys I was with were strong and they were good company but on a course like that it suited the bigger rider.
“I think realistically, the best result for me today was around 30th and I might have got that from riding around in the bunch, but that’s just not me.”
Dunbar said he’d liked to have been better but admitted the Tour of Britain took a lot out of him.
Related News
And even in the U23 time trial last Tuesday he wasn’t able to hit the same numbers he hit when he got 9th in the European Championships.
But he was more disappointed with some criticism he took in the aftermath of yesterday’s race.
Dunbar said the Tour of Britain had taken a lot out of him and that even in the U23 TT in Richmond he felt below par (Photo: Sirotti)
“A few people were saying ‘it was too early to go’. But they forget how young I am.
“It does annoy me in a way because I’m only just after turning 19. It’s not a nice to see these comments after I come in after a hard race.
“It’s very hard for a guy my age to win these races and as I said, there’s no point in me rolling around the bunch, it’s not me.
“And I want to show myself because I am capable of something.
“I didn’t have a team at the front controlling things for me so I had to think of other ways to show myself.
“People forget that I’m only 19. I know the time will come where I’ll race smart.
“I’m confident I’ll get bigger results and I will; but I have to be patient.
“I just have to do what I think is right for me in the situation.”
But those who commented negatively were in the minority, Dunbar said.
And he also remarked on the incredible Irish support he’s received this week in Richmond.
“I want to thank everyone who came out to support me,” he said.
“They’ve been amazing and it was unbelievable hearing my name shouted and seeing so many Irish flags today.
“It was only me in the race but I think the Irish probably outnumbered a lot of other nations.
“I reckon there were Irish on every corner and all the good luck messages I’ve received have really been inspiring.
“I heard my name being shouted all around the course and even the commentator was calling my name; maybe it was because it was the only one he could pronounce!
“We’re so popular out here, the Irish. We’re probably the second most popular after the Americans, who love us.”
Topics
