Irish international Eddie Dunbar will take on Team Sky and other top WorldTour teams this weekend in the 2.1 ranked Tour of Yorkshire. It’s an inaugural event on the Europe Tour calendar and Dunbar’s NFTO team will be keen to show what they can do (Photo: Larry Hickmott - VeloUK.net)
Eddie Dunbar will take on some of cycling’s most established names this weekend after he was named on the start-list for the three-day Tour of Yorkshire; May 1st to 3rd.
The NFTO man will be joined in Bridlington for the opening stage of the 2.1-ranked UCI event by two other Irishmen; former national criterium champion Felix English (JLT-Condor) and four-time national road race champion Matt Brammeier (MTN-Quebeka).
The three stages of the race’s inaugural event have something for everyone, with a lumpy opening stage followed by a day for sprinters.
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The final day is an absolute brute and features “every hill in Yorkshire”, laughed Dunbar.
“We’re really looking forward to it as a team,” Dunbar told stickybottle.
“We did a recce of the circuit and I think it’s going to be the hardest race of the year; the first day is really hilly, the second day will be a day for sprinters but if it’s windy it will blow to bits and the last day is really brutal.
“It’s like the organisers found every hill in Yorkshire.”
Dunbar has ridden very aggressively in the UK pro scene in recent months and in the Nations Cup for Ireland; don't be surprised to see him pull off another spectacular effort this weekend when he will be in the sightline of the world's biggest teams (Photo: Larry Hickmott - VeloUK.net)
Dunbar will line up against WorldTour teams like Team Sky, BMC Racing, Team Giant-Alpecin, a host of ProContinental teams as well as a clutch of fellow Continental squads like his own.
It’s important for Dunbar’s team that they get stuck in as best they can given the developing stage they are at.
Last week they received exciting news of a partnership with Aberdeen Asset Management company that should provide them with the financial clout to step up a level to Pro Continental.
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And this weekend would be an opportune time to show they’ve the ability to mix it with some of the world’s best.
Dunbar said the final stage is one he'd like to do something in.
From Wakefield to Leeds the 167-kilometre leg intended to resemble the second stage of last year’s Tour de France, which saw a dramatic finish in Sheffield won by the eventual overall winner Vincenzo Nibali.
It is relatively short but includes 3,100m of climbing, with six categorised ascents.
Dunbar's team has secured new financial backing and is looking to go up to ProContinental level. This weekend will be a great oppotunity to test those ambitions (Photo: Larry Hickmott - VeloUK.net)
“It’s the hardest circuit I’ve ever ridden in my life.
“For a UCI race it’s short; 174k but over 2,300m of climbing,” he added of the first stage.
“But the third stage is mental – most climbs are small ring as well. It’ll be interesting. I’d love to do something in either the first or last stages.
“We’ll have a strong team; Ian Bibby is in really good form and Steele should be up there for the sprints, I’m sure we can do something.”
The Yorkshire event is part of the legacy from last year’s successful Tour de France Grand Départ in the county, when an estimated two and a half million people turned out to watch.
Some of the names listed to start include Dylan Teuns (BMC), Sebastien Henao (Team Sky), Gerald Ciolek (MTN-Quebeka), Thomas Voeckler (Team Europcar) and Marcel Kittel (Team Giant - Alpecin).
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