Eddie Dunbar continued in Paris-Nice after his crash but was then forced out due to his injuries and was the hit by a motorcyclist the following day in Monaco (Photo: Ivan Benedetto-Cor Vos)
Eddie Dunbar has been missing from the racing scene for three months, after initially crashing in Paris-Nice in March. But he was then kept sidelined for much longer after being involved in another crash, this time in Monaco where he lives.
The unfortunate Irishman was on a Monaco rental bike - the day after he abandoned Paris-Nice - going about his daily life when a motorcyclist burst out of a side street. The motorcyclist did not respect Dunbar's right of way, and sent him flying off his bike.
Cork's Dunbar suffered an ankle injury and has been laid up ever since. And while his team has now issued a statement confirming the reasons for his absence for the first time, he is not going to return to racing any time soon.
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Neither Dunbar nor his team, Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling, has been able to fix a date for his racing return.
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However, he has obviously missed the Giro - which was his big goal for the season - and will also miss the Tour de France.
The team has provisionally suggested he might be back for Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa, which takes place on August 1st, just after the Tour de France has concluded.
Vuelta a Burgos (2.Pro), which starts on August 4th, has also been mooted as another possible comeback race, though nothing is confirmed yet.
Dunbar faced a seven-week period completely off the bike and has now been training on the road for three weeks, meaning the ball is at least rolling for his return to racing.
In the context of his injury, his long lay-off and the way still to before he returns to racing, the Vuelta looks like the event that could save his season, especially as he won two stages in that race two years ago.
More to come.
