Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) again nudged a little higher in the general classification on yesterday's stage 18, continuing the trend for him in the third week of the race.
However, this time around Dunbar's gains were more significant as he put significant time in the men he is competing with for a coveted place in the top 10 overall.
The 179.5km stage to Maestu-Parque Natural de Izki yesterday was run off over undulating terrain, rather than in the high mountains, but the damage a little down the general classification was more significant than one would expect.
Dunbar was one of the main beneficiaries as he is now up to 13th overall, from 18th just a few days ago. And he is now much closer, in terms of time, to the top 10.
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Yesterday's stage was taken by the breakaway men; Urko Berrade (Equipo Kern Pharma) winning with a late attack from the lead group on a day when the escapees took the top 13 places.
? A stupidly fast start delays the formation of the breakaway
⛰️ 4️⃣2️⃣ go clear on the first climb of the day
? Another magical performance by @EqKernPharma
❤️ Ben O’Connor defends his lead on a day where some GC hopefuls lost time.?️ Watch the recap of stage 1️⃣8️⃣ #LaVuelta24 pic.twitter.com/Szavi3Awyn
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 5, 2024
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Dunbar finished in the 17-rider general classification group, some 6:40 down on the stage winner. Cristián Rodríguez (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) had started the day 13th overall, one place and 1:43 up on the Irishman.
However, Rodríguez yesterday finished in a group 3:20 down on Dunbar - exactly 10 minutes off the stage winner - and so he slipped one place in the overall, with Dunbar moving up one slot to 13th.
Interestingly, a number of riders who were far ahead of Dunbar in the general classification yesterday morning were with Rodríguez in the '10 minute' group yesterday. And that means though Dunbar has not passed them in the overall standings, he is now 3:20 closer to them.
If that time loss for those riders has come about because of the fatigue of the third week kicking in, Dunbar may may further gains on them on today's very difficult summit finish to Alto de Moncalvillo.
Sepp Kuss (Visma Lease a Bike), Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) and Mikel Landa (Soudal QuickStep) were all in that group 3:20 down on Dunbar yesterday.
Dunbar is still a long way off the top 10 - some 6:47 down on Landa in 10th. However, it is Kuss, Landa and Yates who are immediately ahead of the Irishman, between him and the top 10, and they are the three riders who went backwards yesterday.
Dunbar has already won a brilliant stage on this race and making the top 10 is not absolutely crucial as finally taking a big result on a Grand Tour was much more important.
However, if he can continue to ride very strongly today and through the weekend - though the final stage is a 24.6km TT which won't suit him - he may get into the top 10. And that would be a huge confidence-booster for him, especially having started the race below par and also having suffered a litany of damaging crashes over the last year.
Yesterday, Irish champion Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) was 103rd on the stage, in a large group at 19:52.
