Eddie Dunbar appears to be taking on the mantle of a rider set to make his mark internationally. While still in the early stages of his career, his riding at home and abroad has been hugely impressive (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
By Brian Canty
Eddie Dunbar has hailed the efforts of his Irish teammates and support staff for their help over the weekend in helping him secure a career-best result with second overall at the Trofeo Karlsberg in Germany.
The O’Leary’s Stone Kanturk man, who only completed his Leaving Cert exams last Wednesday, was a mere nine seconds off the win but said he had no regrets.
In fact, he almost fell right down the standings on the final day yesterday when he crashed hard on the second last lap but remounted, and with the help of his Irish team, got back up to the front.
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“I’m over the moon, it was nice to get second,” he said.
“I’d have liked first but at the end of the day the best juniors in the world were there and when you’re getting results like that obviously you’ve to be happy.”
“On Friday’s opening stage I went early. I was worried it was a bit too early because it was only 5k in, But myself and the Swedish lad started working and the two of us were drilling it, doing brilliant turns.
“I thought we were gone (for the day) but a group of nine caught us and it actually worked out better to give us that bit of a break. I was able to get that extra bit of recovery and have an extra kick at the finish,” he explained.
Against the elites, Dunbar took the climbers' competition at this year's Tour of the North (Photo: Marian Lamb - Cycling Ulster)
Though he went close to the win, he had to settle for fifth on the stage. That set him up nicely for Saturday’s split stage; a morning road race of 80k and an evening time-trial of just under 9km.
“We heard there was a hill Saturday morning, I knew the Americans would take control so their team leader attacked and I went with him. That was how the break got away.
“We rode really hard up the climb and I think there were six more joined us. So we did up and over holding 30 seconds for the remaining 60k. The guy who won the stage got the 10 second time bonus.”
Dunbar said he regretted doing so much work on that last lap, but that pulling saw him move up to second.
“I done most of the work on the last lap, it was my own fault. The guy who won (Slovenian Kristjian Kumar) was sitting on and I genuinely thought he was tired. I thought I’d get the better of him. But he sprinted with 200 metres to go and held us all off for the win and the jersey.”
The time-trial saw Dunbar rock up without a TT bike, and though he went close to winning the test against the clock, he had to settle for 28 seconds behind stage winner Lennard Kamna of Germany.
“At the end of the day, the Giant Propel (bike) I have is one of the most aerodynamic frames in the world and I had a disc and the carbon front wheel.
“The only thing I didn’t have were tri-bars and they might have saved 5-10 seconds but I could have lost that time at the corners. I was happy to get a top 10 in a time-trial at a Nations Cup.”
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Riding to the stage win at the top of Gallows Hill, Co Clare, in the Junior Tour of Ireland last year (Photo: www.blackumbrella,ie)
After the test there remained just the final 100km road stage yesterday.
“The Slovenian team had six riders on the front, they set a savage pace for the first few laps and I thought if they kept that up they’d wreck the yellow jersey. So I just waited until late.
“I attacked on the second last lap going up the climb, the yellow was straight on my wheel but I could hear him breathing heavily. I knew he was under pressure.
“So I said I’d try again on the last lap because he had no teammates. We were going down a descent, I hit the brakes but nothing happened, I nearly wiped him out but I creamed myself off a parked car and I smacked my face off the car.
“But my team were unreal. Daire Feeley gave me a back wheel because I broke mine, neutral didn’t even stop.
“I lost minutes and I thought it was game over, I could see the cars disappear in the distance. I got up to the cavalcade thanks to Craig McAuley, then Neil (Delahaye, men’s coach) brought me on another bit.
“And then Stephen (Shanahan) and Michael (O’Loughlin) both came back to help me, they did great work, got me straight up the front. It was brilliant teamwork. At that stage I just said I’d settle for second. I just followed the moves because I got a shock with the crash.
“In fairness to the lads they used their heads and I’m very grateful to them.”
Minutes ahead of the field on stage 2 of the Junior Tour of Ireland; he would in the stage, take yellow and keep it all the way (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
The Junior Tour of Ireland reigning champion, who will lead the team at the Euros in Switzerland next month sounds enthralled with competing for his country.
“Ireland are back in these races and we’re up there competing with the world’s best. That’s the main thing; that we’re a nation to be watched, not just a nation looking on or being looked down on.
“We’re going to be competing and that’s it. We only had a backup team of two; Neil and Lindsay (Gamble, mechanic) and I'm very grateful too for all the help. And of course to Danny (Curtin, coach) for getting me in shape.
“I have no fear of anyone here, none at all," he continued.
"I think I can beat them all. Hopefully things will go my way at the Euros and I can pull off a result. I know I can do it and we’ll have a strong team going out.
“I can be confident in whoever goes. We’ll just do our best and that’ll be good enough hopefully.”
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