
Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) has suffered a bitter blow at Tirreno Adriatico, crashing out of the Italian stage race on today's stage 5 after putting in one of the TT performances of his career on the opening day of action.
Dunbar had worked himself into a fantastic position for an overall result this week after that opening TT and was 7th overall setting out this morning, some 44 seconds down on Filippo Ganna (Inoes Grenadiers).
However, in wet conditions again today, Dunbar was among a number of fallers during an incident with about 35km to go. He appeared to land on his back on tailbone and though he was able to get up onto two feet, he looked like he was in pain.
"Unfortunately Dunbar has abandon the race following the crash," his team said in a brief statement updating the Irishman's status after that crash. "We’ll provide further updates after the stage."
Stickybottle will bring you those details when we have them.
Fredrik Dversnes (Uno-X Mobility) was in the day-long breakaway, dropping those he was with on the final climb, Monterolo, and riding to a solo win on a day when the race exploded.
The Norwegian just held off the remains of the peloton by seven seconds, with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) sprinting in for 2nd place just ahead of Roger Adrià (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) in third; both at the front of a group numbering just 35 riders.
Race leader Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) suffered a late mechanical but was given the same time as the reduced bunch and still leads overall, by 22 seconds from Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates - XRG).
Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) lost time today after being distanced on a late climb and finished in a group some 1:43 down. Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) was 127th at 19:44.
? Crash in the peloton. ?? @EddieDunbar hits the deck and has left #TirrenoAdriatico @CA_Ita
We wish the Irishman the best ❤️? pic.twitter.com/a7iMqty2Uu
— Tirreno Adriatico (@TirrenAdriatico) March 14, 2025