Eddie Dunbar makes solid racing re-start after crashes, in with real GC chance

Eddie Dunbar has made a solid re-start to his late season after his Vuelta crashes and has a very good shot in the general classification this week (Photo: Luis Angel Gomez-SCA-Cor Vos)

Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) has made a solid re-start to his late season after crashing out of La Vuelta last month. The Irish rider finished the opening stage of CRO Race in Croatia in the reduced main bunch today and should have a strong shot at the general classification on a course with some tough climbs.

Today's opening stage - some 181km from Primošten to Sinj - suited the sprinters and was won by Elia Viviani after a powerful lead-out from Ineos Grenadiers team mate Conor Swift. Young Danish rider, Tobias Lund Andresen (Team dsm-firmenich), went close to beating the Italian, but had to settle for 2nd place, with Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) 3rd.

While today's stage was relatively flat, the bunch numbered fewer than 70 riders and the number of men losing time in the next few days will be even bigger, considering some of the climbs to come; something that can really suit Dunbar.

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Friday's stage 4, in particular, will put order on the general classification. The 191km race from Krk to Labin features 3,600m of elevation gain, including one that goes to 1,000 metres, with the stage ending on a 2km kicker to the line.

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While there are some strong riders in the field, Dunbar looks like the stand-out climber. If his form is back on track after his Vuelta abandon, the race could be a real chance for him to score an overall victory. The Ineos Grenadiers duo of Ethan Hayter and Magus Sheffield, along with Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) and Oscar Onley (Team dsm-firmenich) may prove his biggest rivals for overall victory.

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