When some of the biggest names in pro cycling were going full gas at the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic, Irish teenager Eddie Dunbar pulled clear with them (Photo: VeloUK.net)
Having put in some fantastic performances already this year that suggest he is on the cusp of a big pro career, Eddie Dunbar was at it again today at the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic.
The NFTO Pro Cycling man was one of a select group that managed to escape from the peloton on the Box Hill ascent; with the BMC duo of Tour de France stage winner and yellow jersey hold Rohan Dennis and former world champion Philippe Gilbert doing the damage at that stage.
Dunbar would eventually have to settle for 21st on the day; a result that will likely not please the ever-ambitious Irish teenager.
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But when the road went up at the business end of the race and some of the biggest names in pro cycling were riding full gas, the fact Dunbar could mix it bodes very well.
The race-winning move went with around 70km remaining when Sep Vanmarcke (Team LottoNL-Jumbo) took matters into his hands in attacking hard.
He was joined by Jean-Pierre Drucker (BMC), Mike Teunissen (LottoNL-Jumbo), Ben Swift (Team Sky), Kristian Sbaragli (MTN-Qhubeka), Leigh Howard (Orica-GreenEdge), Kenneth Van Rooy (Lotto Soudal) and Fernando Gaviria (Etixx-QuickStep).
They built what looked like a decisive gap very quickly.
And while their lead stayed at around one minute for almost an hour of racing, it shot out to 1:30 as the field behind dithered.
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But when a chase group got clear, Dunbar was there.
He came home at the back of that 13-man group that filled places 9th to 21st, exactly one minute down on winner Jean-Pierre Drucker (BMC).
He got the better of Mike Teunissen (LottoNL-Jumbo) in the sprint to the line from the breakaway, with home favourite and British national champion Ben Swift (Team Sky) in 3rd place.
Conor Dunne of An Post Chainreaction was 76th, some nine minutes down. His team mate Ryan Mullen finished 115th, just over 19 minutes down on the winner.
Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic
1 Jean Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing Team 4:47:46
2 Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team Lotto NL-Jumbo
3 Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky
4 Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Team Lotto NL-Jumbo
5 Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN-Qhubeka
6 Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
7 Kenneth Van Rooy (Bel) Lotto Soudal 4:48:14
8 Fernando Gaviria Rendon (Col) Etixx-Quick Step 4:48:35
9 Moreno Hofland (Ned) Team Lotto NL-Jumbo 4:48:46
10 Yves Lampaert (Bel) Etixx-Quick Step
11 Loic Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing Team
12 Daniele Ratto (Ita) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team
13 Dries Van Gestel (Bel) Lotto Soudal
14 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal
15 Graham Briggs (GBr) JLT Condor
16 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
17 Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen
18 Twan Castelijns (Ned) Team Lotto NL-Jumbo
19 Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen
20 Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen
21 Eddie Dunbar (Irl) NFTO
22 Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bora-Argon 19 4:50:50
23 Federico Zurlo (Ita) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team
24 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Cult Energy Pro Cycling
25 Mark Mcnally (GBr) Madison Genesis
26 Bartiomlej Matysiak (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
27 Dale Appleby (GBr) NFTO
28 Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky
29 Jakub Kaczmarek (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
30 Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Argon 23
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