Eddie Dunbar performed very well against pro opposition in one of America's hardest one-day races riding for Ireland on Sunday. Above, competing for his country in the U23 Nations Cup earlier this season (Photo: Oran Kelly)
By Brian Canty
Eddie Dunbar was best of the Irish in the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic this afternoon, crossing the line in 17th just 18 seconds behind winner Eduard Prades (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA).
The 19 year-old Irishman came to the base of the final climb before the finish line in a good position after keeping his powder dry all afternoon.
It was always going to be a case of who could sprint up that final hill - known as Manayunk Wall, the quickest and in much the same way Fleche-Wallone is decided each year, so too were matters on this occasion.
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Dunbar and teammate Damien Shaw were in that front group coming to the final ramp and really held their positions well.
They carried good speed into the final bend before the infamous Manayunk Wall yawned out in front of them and Dunbar really did well to weave and bob his way up the punishing ascent to the line, passing rider after rider along the way.
He would eventually take 17th which was also the third-best U23.
The Irish lads rode out of their skins this afternoon in the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic with Eddie Dunbar finishing a superb 17th and third best U23 rider. Left to right: Shaw, Richardson, Dunbar, Morton and Feeley.
Travis McCabe looked like he’d done enough to take victory after surging clear but the Holowesko-Citadel man was caught in sight of the line and passed only by Prades.
Shaw was 39th at 55 seconds and as well as Dunbar's result it is very encouraging.
The race was a real war of attrition over the 178 kilometres where the riders completed nine laps of a 19.7-kilometre course.
14 riders made up the day’s break – with no Irish present and it turned out to be a wise move not having anyone in there as the leaders were within sight with less than three laps to go.
On the last lap, race veteran ex-Team Sky man Danny Pate (Rally Cycling) launched a solo attack but when that amounted to nought the fireworks started in the final kilometres.
Shaw and Dunbar were visible in the final, jockeying for position against the more established pros on the American and Canadian scene.
Stephen Clancy was 3:29 down riding in the colours of his Novo-Nordisk team while next across the line some 20 seconds back was Ian Richardson who was very active in the early stages.
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Eoin Morton and Daire Feeley were listed as non-finishers.
Philadelphia International Classic, 178km
1 Eduard Prades, Caja-Rural, 3:57:37
2 Travis McCabe, Holowesko-Citadel, at 0:01
3 Marco Canola, UnitedHealthCare, at s.t.
4 Lucas Sebastian Haedo, Team Jamis, at 0:05
5 Jacob Rathe, Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis, at 0:08
6 Chad Beyer, Lupus Racing Team, at 0:09
7 Ben Perry, Silber Pro Cycling, at 0:10
8 Eric Marcotte, Team Jamis, at s.t.
9 Rei Halilaj, Amore & Vita, at 0:12
10 Robin Carpenter, Holowesko-Citadel, at 0:13
17 Eddie Dunbar, Irish National team, at 0:18
39 Damien Shaw, Irish National team, at 0:18
68 Stephen Clancy, Novo Nordisk, at 3:29
70 Ian Richardson , Irish National team, at 3:48
Daire Feeley , Irish National team, DNF
Eoin Morton, Irish National team, DNF
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