Eddie Dunbar will wear the green of Ireland at the An Post Rás next week. The 19-year old Corkman said it was a big blow to miss the Tour of California after breaking his collar bone in a crash last month but has since recovered and is looking forward to racing on home roads next week. (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Eddie Dunbar has said he’ll go into the An Post Rás with an open mind rather than set any targets for himself.
But if the opportunity arises to chase a stage win he’ll be going hell for leather after it.
The 19-year old has been out of racing action since he broke his collar bone while out training near his home in Cork in mid-April.
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But a solid block of training in the aftermath has him somewhere near where he was prior to the fall.
He required an operation at the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry, Dublin, but when he woke after the necessary work was completed he was pain-free, meaning he could recommence training within two days.
“The crash happened on the Wednesday and I was in the sports clinic Friday morning, so I was only waiting 36 hours for the operation.
“That made the healing process a lot quicker, compared to last year after I broke it in Yorkshire.
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“There, I had to wait 6 to 7 days so to get it done a few days quicker meant I had no pain and full movement in my arm, I couldn’t believe it.
“From experience, I knew how to handle the injury a bit better and I knew I would be back on the turbo within 2 to 3 days.”
And in those days he went from the low of knowing he’d miss the Tour of California with Axeon-Hagens Berman to the high of receiving a call from Cycling Ireland wondering would he be right for the Rás.
“Straight after the crash I thought ‘Cali is gone’ but then the Rás came up," Dunbar said, looking on the bright side of missing a major season goal which is underway at present and where his team mates are riding well.
“It was always in my mind and when Cycling Ireland asked me would I be able to ride it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
“It’s the first Irish team in years to do it so to be part of it is an honour. I’m certainly looking forward to it; my home race, racing for Ireland. It is going to be a nice feeling.”
Asked what he expects of himself, he said: “I’m going in with an open mind. I kind of know what I want out of it but it’s such an aggressive race you never know.
“I’ve done a couple of stage races before but there’s been enough riders in them to control it, like the Tour of Britain.
“But with five riders it’s going to be very aggressive; if you go out too hard early on you’ll have nothing left at the end.
"So I’ll just go in with an open mind and see what happens.”
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