Eddie Dunbar believes Dan Martin will be selected for the Rio Olympics and will decide who fills the only other elite berth. And if he climbs with the best in the Tour of California in May, he says he will be in the running for the Games.
By Shane Stokes
Having gotten his season underway on Saturday with a bunch finish in the GP Liberty Seguros in Portugal though crashed the following day, Eddie Dunbar has officially made his competitive debut with the Axeon Hagens Bergman team and is building towards a major season goal.
Dunbar said that he would almost certainly miss the chance to ride the An Post Rás due to an overlap with the 2.HC race he wants to target.
“As long as I am fit and healthy, I should be doing California,” he stated.
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Despite Dunbar’s youth, team owner Axel Merckx has confirmed to stickybottle that it is possible the 19 year old will indeed compete against some of the world’s top professionals in the Amgen Tour of California.
It runs from May 15th to 22nd, and includes a summit finish to Santa Barbara County.
You can keep an eye on Dunbar's progress by following him at this new Facebook page where he will be sharing his thoughts - just follow this link.
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“There is a chance for sure,” said Merckx, the son of the most successful rider in history, Eddy Merckx. “He is absolutely in the back of my mind.
“Eddie has the talent and if he has the right form at the right time, then he has a big chance of being there. We are just going to have to wait a little bit closer to the race.”
While Dunbar won’t turn 20 until September, he refuses to rule himself out of the Irish team for the Olympic Games. He sees his May target as a possible way to help secure selection.
“Rio is definitely a possibility. It is a hilly parcours there,” he said.
“But it all depends on the results – if I can prove I can climb with the best in the world in California or in the Tour of Utah, there is definitely a strong possibility I could do it.
“It depends on me. The course suits me. Dan Martin will definitely be going, so it will be a question of who he wants to go with him.
“It will definitely be Dan’s choice, it won’t be anyone else’s choice.”
Dunbar identifies another Irish rider as being in the running.
“It suits Deignan down to the ground as well. He would be perfect for Dan, too. It would be about whether he wants to do it or not.
“But if I can show what I can do, it is definitely a possibility. I will keep it at the back of my mind.
“If it doesn’t come up, though, I will definitely get another chance.”
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