Interest in Eddie Dunbar’s next move has been increasing since his breakthrough wins at Coppi e Bartali and Tour de Hongrie, with initial reports stating he was set to join BikeExchange-Jayco now being repeated and apparently gaining ground.
Dunbar is out of contract at the end of this year after 4½ seasons with Ineos Grenadiers. The 25-year-old joined the British World Tour team, then Team Sky, midway through the 2018 campaign when his then employer Aqua Blue Sport came to an abrupt end.
Dunbar saw out the 2018 campaign with Team Sky in a contract that also included the 2019 season. He then signed a three-year deal, up to the end of this year. His time at the team is now set to come to a close at the end of this year.
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While the window for confirming new contracts does not open in cycling until August 1st, it always seemed clear Dunbar was leaving Ineos Grenadiers and BikeExchange Jayco was the first team he was linked with.
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While there were also reports stating Jumbo Visma had been speaking to the Irishman, the BikeExchange-Jayco interest has appeared stronger in recent months.
And now in the latest reports on a possible move, Dunbar has been linked to BikeExchange-Jayco by VeloNews, which suggests the Irish rider has already agree a multi-year deal with the Australian squad.
Dunbar would not be the out-and-out leader of that team as Simon Yates, who won the 2018 Vuelta, is the clear Grand Tour GC man on the roster. He has finished in the top 10 overall five times in Grand Tours, including his Vuelta win and 3rd overall at the Giro last year.
Yates has also won 10 Grand Tour stages during his career and while he is out of contract at the end of his year, he was expected to renew with BikeExchange-Jayco.
However, Dunbar will be much further up the pecking order at the Australian team than he ever was at Ineos Grenadiers, where he has only ridden one Grand Tour. That will mean being granted team leadership responsibilities at more races, including one-week stage races. He may also get a chance to go in the breakaways at Grand Tours.
