Eddie Dunbar now just seconds off yellow at CRO Race | Video

Eddie Dunbar in action on the road during stage 4 of CRO Race, where his team rode on the front in a bid to make it hard for the Irishman's rivals (Photo: Luis Angel Gomez-SCA-Cor Vos)

Eddie Dunbar is now just eight seconds off the yellow jersey at CRO Race in Croatia after today's queen stage. His Team Jayco AlUla squad rode on the front on the climbs in a bid to make it as hard as possible for the Irishman's rivals.

Dunbar, still coming back to form after his crash-related exit from La Vuelta last month, was among the strongest riders in the race as the road kicked up at the finish on the hilliest stage of the race. However, he may had done better if he had started the final surge to the line in a better position.

He finished in 10th place, towards the back of a 12-man group all credited with the same time was stage winner Matej Mohorič (Bahrain-Victorious). Mohorič proved too strong for the others on the small cobbled climb to the line in Labin, for his sixth win of the season.

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The stage was 191km, with a 13.3km HC climb of 5.7 per cent gradient around the halfway point. And while Dunbar's team pressed at the front, the climbs did not prove as selective as they may have been. Coming towards the finish, for the final 2km kicker, the front group still numbered about 40 riders.

Dunbar slipped back a little in the group as the final push for the line began, stringing out the group and blowing it to pieces. At the front, Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers) looked poised to strike but got boxed in a little. Instead, Mohorič won it from Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) and Orluis Aular (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), with Hayter 4th.

Dunbar's 10th place was just ahead of a nine-second gap, keeping him in contention for the general classification. He is now 9th overall, equal on time with seven riders all eight seconds behind new race leader Sheffield.

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However, with very little significant climbing remaining on the final two stages, the scope for Dunbar to make any more gains is limited. While there is another HC climb tomorrow, it is located at the very start of the stage. Any damage inflicted will likely be cancelled by a regrouping.

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