Eddie Dunbar's Axeon Hagens Berman team were forced on the defensive today on the opening stage of the Tour de Savoie Mont Blanc after missing the 12-rider break. They made a huge effort to narrow the gap to the leaders to just 33 seconds, with the Irishman crossing the line in a front group of just 34 riders (Photo: Dave Wilson)
By Brian Canty
Eddie Dunbar has continued his good form from the An Post Rás after finishing in a dramatically reduced front group on the opening stage of the five-day Tour de Savoie Mont Blanc today.
The 19 year-old Corkman crossed the line 33 seconds down on stage winner Alexis Guerin (GSC Blagnac Vélo Sport 31) following a mountainous 145-kilometre journey between St Michelle de Maurienne and Cruseilles in France’s Haute Alpine region.
Advertisement
With the road reaching an elevation gain of 800+ metres on three occasions it was always likely to be a war of attrition and Dunbar fared admirably, given he and his Axeon Hagens Berman team were forced to do much of the pace-setting after being one of just a few teams to miss the 12-man break.
24 year-old Frenchman Alexis Guérin (GSC Blagnac Vélo Sport 31) took the win from Lennard Hofsteded (Rabobank Development Team) with Jhonnatan Narvaez Prado (Klein Constantia) in third.
That trio were part of the day's original breakaway but Guérin edged the sprint that decided it after they dropped the remnants of the escape with 35 kilometres remaining.
Related News
“We rode on the front for the last 50 kilometres to try and bring the break back,” said Dunbar.
“We were one of the only teams to miss it. Overall, it was still a good race though it rained for most of the day!
“Tomorrow is short but up and down; mostly up so that's good,” he added.
Axeon Hagens Berman actually paid a heavy price for today as just three of their men finished in that front group of 34 riders.
Tao-Geoghegan Hart was 12th with Ameriacn Adrien Costa 14th and Dunbar 19th.
That sees them fourth in the team classification with plenty yet to play for.
Tomorrow's stage is a 118-kilometre trek from Barby to Les Deserts and after three categorised climbs inside the opening 50 kilometres there are two more that reach 800 and 1450 metres respectively, the latter where the stage will end.
Topics
