Eddie Dunbar will start the five-stage Tour de Savoie Mont Blanc tomorrow, a very testing UCI 2.2-ranked event based in the Alps. Dan Martin was the last Irishman to win it 10 years ago.
By Brian Canty
Eddie Dunbar will finalise his preparations for the National Road Championships over the coming days when he starts the five-stage Tour de Savoie Mont Blanc tomorrow, Thursday.
The 19-year-old Irishman is aiming to emulate Dan Martin who won the race back in 2006 when he lines up as part of the Axeon Hagens Berman team.
It’s an event that should suit a rider like Dunbar as it’s heavy on climbs while there’s also a hilly TT that climbs to almost 900 metres.
There are five stages over four days - with Saturday featuring a morning road race followed by the 7.5km TT.
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Thursday's opening stage from St Michel de Maurienne to Cruseilles is 145km with three categorised climbs; the final ascent crested with 50km still to race.
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Friday's stage 2 is the shortest road stage but there is a summit finish to Les Deserts at 1,800m coming after three climbs that top out at around 500 metres each.
Saturday morning's stage 3 features plenty of climbing, with the finish in Modane coming after the ascent of Aussois - climbing to 1,500m - after 120 kilometres.
The Saturday afternoon stage 4 TT may be short at 7.5 kilometres but it climbs for 5km.
That final stage on Sunday features four categorised climbs, one of which is the Col du Colombier, a mountain pass often included in the Tour de France.
At 16 kilometres it’s a going to decimate the field but it’s terrain Dunbar will surely be relishing.
Some of the teams taking part are Avanti-Isowhey from Australia, BMC Racing Team, Burgos BH from Spain, Direct Energie, Fortuneo Vital Concept, Lotto Soudal and the Rabobank Development team.
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