Eddie Dunbar counts cost of mishap in race-winning position
Eddie Dunbar has been in flying form again and went close to winning a UCI 1.2-ranked event against some very big names. But a crash and a subsequent mechanical cost him dearly.
By Brian Canty
Eddie Dunbar went very close to landing a major result in the Classica da Arribada in Portugal today but had to settle for fifth in a race won by the man who lit up the recent Volta ao Algarve.
The young Corkman was 21 seconds behind the winner, Amaro Antunes of W52-FC Porto with former World Tour veteran and Tour de France stage winner Sergio Paulinho in second, riding for Efapel from Portugal.
Dunbar, who has been going really well in recent weeks, reckons if he hadn’t crashed on a descent late on he might have won the race which was classed as a 1.2.
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“Basically, everything was going really smoothly," he said of the race before the crash.
"Myself, Will Barta and Neilson Powless were the protected riders while the other five were going to control things.
“It was good to have Logan (Owen) in the break because the rest of us were able to sit back and be fresh for the finish.
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"But it was probably too good to be true. We were going down one of the descents and Neilson crashed.
“I was behind him and managed to get around him. It was really slippery and he went into a corner too hot.
“Will crashed after him and then I crashed 200 meters later. So in the space of a minute or two, everything went downhill – literally.
“I quickly put my chain back on and Rui and Ivo (Oliveira) waited for me and did a brilliant job of getting me back to the group.
“But I was stuck in one gear for the rest of the race because my bike was damaged from the crash.
“I had the big ring and the smallest in the back – the 12 – which is not a great gear for climbing.
“The guys got me to the foot of the climb in fifth wheel and my legs were really good today. So it was disappointing not to be able to finish it off for everyone.
“I probably averaged about 30 revolutions per minute the whole time up to the finish on gravel roads and cobbles.
“Today was definitely there for the taking. But that's bike racing.
"The team rode superbly. It was just unfortunate circumstances. But it shows the strength and depth of our team. Every day we are competing.”
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