Eddie Dunbar and Adam Yates are on the verge of a transfer away from Ineos Grenadiers and into rival World Tour team BikeExchange-Jayco, according to reports in Italy.
La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Ciro Scognamiglio has reported the Australian team wants to sign the Irish and British riders, both of whom will see their current contracts with Ineos Grenadiers expiring at the end of this year.
Dunbar is now in his fifth season with the British World Tour team having joined the squad during the 2018 season when his then ProContinental team Aqua Blue Sport ceased operations.
The Irishman initially signed for the remainder of that season, and for the following year, before being offered a three-year deal to the end of this season.
His time with Ineos Grenadiers has been mixed as the 25-year-old has been hit with some crash injuries and also tested positive for Covid-19 last year as he was just about to ride La Vuelta.
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While he had been expected to ride the Giro d’Italia, currently underway, he was not named in the team. That was despite his recent victory, the first of his professional career, in Coppi e Bartali.
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Dunbar will not be in contention for a ride in the Tour de France, though may compete in La Vuelta later this year. He has ridden one Grand Tour to date with Ineos Grenadiers, the Giro in 2019, when he was 22nd overall and scored 3rd on one stage.
While he has ridden very well of late – especially at Tour de Suisse late last year and when taking his Coppi e Bartali victory last month – Ineos Grenadiers is packed with talented riders. Specifically, the roster is stacked with climbers, like Dunbar, while a younger wave of riders is now rapidly emerging in the team.
It means if the Irishman was to stay with the team, the opportunities to chase his own results may be very limited in the years ahead. On the other hand, a move into a team where he would be higher up the pecking order, as he comes into his prime years, may catapult his career forward even more.
Given his climbing prowess, and his recent victory, Dunbar will have a strong hand in the transfer market, whether he stays with Ineos Grenadiers or decides to opt for pastures new.
For Yates, a move to BikeExchange-Jayco would see him back with his former team and reunite him with his brother Simon, who is currently leading the Australian outfit at the Giro and is favourite to win the race.
Dunbar started the Tour of Hungary today, finishing in the bunch as the stage ended in a bunch sprint won by Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma). Dunbar should get a chance later in the week when the race concludes with a summit finish on Sunday up a 12.1km cat climb averaging 5.6 per cent.
