By Shane Stokes
Two weeks after withdrawing from the Vuelta a España, Eddie Dunbar’s coach has confirmed that the Irishman has returned to the bike.
Speaking to stickybottle this week, coach Alex Camier stated that the Corkman has been able to get back in the saddle, albeit at a reduced level for now.
“Eddie has returned to basic training, [there are] still some small limitations from injuries,” Camier stated.
Dunbar went into the Vuelta a España hoping to improve on the fine seventh place overall he took in the Giro d’Italia in May.
However he crashed twice in the opening time trial, incurring injuries which saw him lose time stage by stage. He was 42nd overall, 3’32 behind the-then race leader Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) starting the fifth stage, but crashed in the neutralised zone.
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Bashed and bruised, he decided to withdraw. The context behind that decision was later given by the Jayco-AlUla team doctor Dani Castillo.
“Eddie was already suffering some soreness from the crashes during the TTT [team time trial] on stage one and with the crash today, the impact was in a similar area to the first stage, so it was impossible for him to push, impossible for him to pedal.
“Fortunately, the x-ray doesn’t show any bone injury. Unfortunately he can’t ride at the moment, but with some rest and good treatment he will be ok.”
He has got to the point now where he can indeed train and, according to Camier, a first race back has been identified and is being aimed for.
Dunbar will hope to be in solid form for the Cro race in Croatia. The 2.1-ranked event begins on September 26 and runs until October 1.
He previously told stickybottle that he hoped to ride the end of season one day races in Italy, including Il Lombardia. That Classic is on October 10th.
