There has been good news for Eddie Dunbar ahead of his next assignment; the five-day Volta Alentejo in Portugal (Photo: Axeon Hagens Berman - Davey Wilson)
The Axeon Hagens Berman team of Irish rider Eddie Dunbar has issued a reassuring update on his condition after a crash in Portugal on Sunday, saying he has no broken bones.
The US-based Continental outfit said both Dunbar and team mate Colin Joyce, who also crashed on Sunday, have been cleared to race tomorrow, Wednesday.
“We have good news to report from the separate crashes Sunday involving Irish Under 23 national road champion Eddie Dunbar and Colin Joyce,” the team said in a brief statement.
“X-rays revealed nothing broken so both are expected to line up for the Volta Alentejo Crédito Agrícola on Wednesday.”
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That five-day race is also in Portugal, the first destination outside the US in the team’s international schedule this season.
Dunbar (19) had managed to avoid the very big crashes on Saturday’s opening stage of the two-day GP Liberty Seguros.
He finished in a reduced peloton of 70 riders that arrived at the finish intact.
On Sunday the Irish teenager showed his characteristic aggression and climbing legs when he made a six-man breakaway over the top of the day's first categorised climb.
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Unfortunately he crashed on a cobbled descent.
"It was full on carnage for us today," Axeon Hagens Berman assistant director Jeff Louder said after Sunday’s stage.
"Eddie messed up his hand but was able to finish and Colin may have broken a rib. Both will need to go to the hospital."
And with those hospital checks now having given Dunbar clearance to race tomorrow, he goes into the Volta Alentejo Crédito Agrícola.
The five stages in the UCI 2.2-ranked event will offer Dunbar some really quality racing.
Stage 1 is 158km with four categorised climbs followed by the 206km stage 2. It only has one climb but it is right at the finish and may suit Dunbar if he has recovered from his spill on Sunday.
There follows stages 3, which is 187km and features no categorised climbs.
On Saturday stage 4 is 185km with one climb and the concluding 172km stage 5 on Sunday has two climbs.
While the ambitious Dunbar will want to test himself and gain results immediately, team owner Axel Merckx has a reputation for encouraging a steady and sustainable approach.
It means there will be no pressure on Dunbar to perform, with the emphasis instead on learning and improving.
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