Eddie Dunbar of Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team crashed at Paris-Nice also six weeks ago, and was forced out of the race (Photo: Billy Ceusters)
After losing Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) from the Ardennes Classics, Irish cycling fans would have been looking forward to seeing Eddie Dunbar (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) in action at Tour of the Alps (2.Pro) this week.
However, while Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) has started the week-long event, Dunbar was absent when the race rolled out of Innsbruck this morning. His team is led by Tom Pidcock instead, 2nd today, as Irish climber Dunbar's return from his crash has been delayed.
Dunbar crashed at Paris-Nice almost six weeks ago and though he was able to finish that day, stage 2, and carried on in the race, it was immediately clear he was carrying lingering injuries.
He was dropped by his team mates in the TTT the following day, though he would have expected to be one of the strongest in the team. And the Irishman did not start stage 4 the following day.
Advertisement
While it was hoped Dunbar could shake off the injuries - which have not been specified by his team - and return to racing quickly, that has not happened.
Related News
The Corkman was due to start Tour of the Alps but last week it was decided he would not start due to the linger issues after the Paris-Nice crash.
The Irish climber is due to ride Giro d'Italia, starting early next month. However, he now faces a race against time to get set for that event as the Giro starts on May 9th in Nessebar, Bulgaria.
Dunbar finished 7th overall in the Giro in 2023 and would have probably finished in the top five but for falling ill before the final mountain TT, losing a couple of placings in the GC.
The Irish climber also won two stages at the Vuelta two years ago, including the queen stage on the penultimate day of racing. He rode away from the general classification group solo on the climb of Picón Blanco for a spectacular win and also took 11th overall in that Vuelta.
Dunbar was expected to ride the Giro and aim for a stage win and a general classification result. However, with almost three weeks remaining until the race starts, he could still make it.
If he is on the start line, he could ride himself into the race, where a low-key start with no pressure, having missed so much racing, may even suit him.
