Eddie Dunbar's result today on the queen stage at Tour de Romandie may not linger long in the memory. Having won two stage races last year, finishing 9th today - even on such a hard stage - was, on the surface, not much to write home about.
However, in the most important year of his career - one that may decide the trajectory of the rest of his days racing in the pro peloton - Dunbar is now competing with considerable pressure on his shoulders, especially after his very disappointing start to the season.
But a number of things that happened today marked today's race - 161.6km to the summit of Thyon 2000 - as one of the most important in his career so far, here's why:
Dunbar's own performance
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As we've said above, coming 9th today - for a rider like Dunbar - is no big deal. However, the Corkman has missed most of the season to date after breaking his hand in his first race for Jayco AlUla. He faced two months away from racing, as the injury was more complex than expected, and he is now under pressure to perform for his new team. While the 26-year-old Irishman rode the recent Itzulia Basque Country, his performance there was anonymous. That kind of ride - especially against top opposition there - was excusable as it was his comeback race. But if he had repeated that showing today, it would have been a concern with the Giro d'Italia just around the corner. Today Dunbar stepped him; proving one of the strongest on the big final climb. He would have secured a better finish had the key attacks not gone off the front of the select group just as he was caught after attacking solo. Overall, today's performance shows his form - especially his climbing - is on the up exactly when it needs to be as he faces into just the second Grand Tour of his career, starting this day week.
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Team support
The kind of team support we saw today for Dunbar was a first in his career. It's often said he didn't get any opportunities during his 4½ years with Team Sky/Ineos Grenadiers. However, that's simply not true, as we teased out in an earlier piece available by following this link. But we have definitely never seen a full team on the front for Dunbar on a big day in the mountains as we did today. The manner in which Jayco AlUla took it up with 12km remaining on the final climb showed real intent, not to mention significant levels of confidence in Dunbar. This is the kind of chance Irish cycling fans have wanted for Dunbar for a long time - a team who believes in his ability on the big climbs willing to race all-in for him on those hardest mountains. If Dunbar's form continues to improve with a bit of recovery in the week ahead, we can look forward to him doing something special at the Giro. The team definitely showed today it has full confidence in him - despite his early season woes. Today's team ride on Thyon 2000 also looked like a dress rehearsal for the Giro and we hope to see more of it in coming weeks.
Being best in his team
Earlier this season, Jayco AlUla general manager, Brent Copeland, said while Dunbar would be team leader at the Giro, Filippo Zana would also have the same status in the team on the Italian Grand Tour. Zana is the Italian national champion and, aged 24 years, has secured strong results in his career. He was 3rd overall at Tour de l'Avenir two years ago and took overall wins that year in both Sazka Tour (2.1) and Course de la Paix Grand Prix Jeseníky (2.Ncup). While they are not major pro victories, they point to one thing; serious potential in stage races. This is Zana's first year with Jayco AlUla and his first as a World Tour rider. The team clearly believes in him and it is important Dunbar's performances on the road make it clear he has the upper hand on his team mate. He managed to do that today and it's important that continues.
Just about getting timing right
Dunbar was signed by Jayco AlUla for his climbing abilities and his Grand Tour potential, which the team told us earlier this year it can unlock with a special plan for the Irishman. However, missing so much racing at the start of the year was a bit of a disaster for Dunbar. It left him in a race against time to get into top form for the Giro, a race where he must prove he is worth backing in a Grand Tour. He doesn't need to set the world on fire at the Giro. A top 10 ride overall would prove his Grand Tour potential and would ensure he goes into future Grand Tours as team leader again. Against that background, it was vital Dunbar could arrive at the Giro in good enough form to give himself a chance to prove the team was right to sign him as Grand Tour leader. Thankfully, despite his crash on the first day of the new campaign, Dunbar appears to be on course for the Giro.
