Eddie Dunbar is part of a very strong Aqua Blue Sport line-up for two 200km one-day races in France this weekend. The lumpy terrain can suit the 21-year-old Irishman (Photo: Karen M Edwards)
Eddie Dunbar set for two days of EuropeTour racing
Having already made a welcome returning to racing Eddie Dunbar is back in the peloton again this weekend.
The 21-year-old is part of the Aqua Blue Sport line-up for two French UCI 1.1-ranked races.
He rides the 200km Classic de l'Ardèche Rhône Crussol tomorrow. And on Sunday he takes in the 206km Royal Bernard Drome Classic.
Both races are undulating and are likely to split considerably. Dunbar crashed hard in the Baby Giro last April and returned to racing proper two weeks ago.
He rode the Trofeo Laigueglia in Italy; his debut race for Aqua Blue Sport. He coped well with what was an aggressive race.
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However, but 40 riders were prevented from completing the final circuit. And it meant the young Irishman was not among the finishers.
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As a result of being away from racing for so long and having stepped up to ProContinental level, it will likely take him some time to properly adjust.
The two races over the weekend will provide a very good test of his form. And they are on courses that can suit him.
There is a quality field assembling for the races; which are effectively sister events. They are jointly referred to as Boucles Drome Ardeche and the same riders generally ride both.
A number of WorldTour teams will be present including Ag2r-La Mondiale, Trek-Segafredo, FDJ, QuickStep and Astana.
Aqua Blue Sport has assembled a very strong selection for both races. Eddie Dunbar is the sole Irishman riding and is joined by Briton Mark Christian and US champion Larry Warbasse.
Also riding are Stefan Denifl, Lasse Norman Hansen, Michel Kreder and Calvin Watson.
Denifl won a stage of the Vuelta and the Tour of Austria overall last year. Warbasse is US national champion and Christian had a great Tour of Oman.
Hansen has already won a stage of the Herald Sun Tour this year and held the yellow jersey in that race.
The team will be looking to be aggressive tomorrow and hopefully get some of their riders in the winning move.
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