Photos capture pain inflicted by Eddie Dunbar's big attack in Flanders
When Eddie Dunbar crested the final Tour of Flanders climb alone, there was carnage behind - as these Jens Morel photographs show.
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When Eddie Dunbar attacked with 30km remaining at the U23 Tour of Flanders on Saturday only two men could go with him.
However, the Irishman soon dispatched Norwegian Tobias Foss. And Frenchman Alexys Brunel was next to go.
The photos below show Dunbar going over the top of the final climb of the Eikenberg. Brunel is struggling to get back to him.
And the chase behind was one of carnage. The shots below – which are time sequence – show some of the best U23 riders in the world under severe pressure.
Yet up the road Dunbar was ensuring he would reach the finish alone. Brunel dragged his way back to him but that was short-lived.
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Dunbar would put in another acceleration and pull clear. And though he took his time to celebrate at the finish, he still had 49 seconds in hand on the line.
He came home that margin clear of a group of 11 riders. Belgian Jasper Philipsen won the sprint for 2nd from Jérémy Lecroq of France.
In the 168km contest.
All Photos by Jens Morel
Dunbar in full flight over the crest of the final climb, with the rest of the field burying themselves at the same spot in the photos below, which are in time sequence.
The French rider Dunbar was with comes over the climb having just been dropped by the Irishman.
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Switzerland leeads the chase third man on the road. Check out the grimmaces of those behind him as Dunbar is up the road riding solo towards a dream victory.
The Swiss rider looks back to assess the damage as he goes over the crest of that final climb.
Head down, eyeballs out - the pressure at this point of a race at this level is clear to see.
Dunbar congratulated by one of the Team GB riders, great to see the respect these riders have for each other.
In both shots above Dunbar is congratulated by fellow U23 Irish international Daire Feeley.
The final podium.
The Irish team at the start.
Daire Feeley feeling the pain of Flanders.
Darragh O'Mahony in the green of Ireland. Team mate Michael O'Loughlin is to the right; wearing the Irish U23 road race champion's jersey.
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