Eddie Dunbar is flying the Irish flag in Germany this weekend and was well poised for an all-out assault on trying to win a Junior Nations Cup stage race.
By Brian Canty
Eddie Dunbar has had another superb day at the Trofeo Karlsberg in Germany and was placed second overall this morning just nine seconds behind the race leader, Kristjan Kumar of Slovenia, with one stage remaining.
The O’Leary’s Stone Kanturk rider, leading the Irish team this weekend, made his way into the break on yesterday morning’s 79 kilometre road stage and that eight-man escape came home 26 seconds ahead of the peloton which contained just 46 riders.
The remaining Irish team members, Michael O’Loughlin, Stephen Shanahan, Daire Feeley and Craig McAuley were all in that group on what was a very hard and hilly stage.
Advertisement
That result saw Dunbar jump up to second after he had finished 4th on Friday’s opening stage and he stayed there yesterday evening after taking seventh in the time-trial, 28 seconds behind stage winner Lennard Kamna of Germany.
The result was all the more significant given Dunbar did not have a time-trial bike.
Coach Neil Delahaye, who is overseeing the team this weekend, said it was a brilliant day for the team, but their work was not yet at the Junior Nations Cup event.
“Eddie’s second on GC only nine seconds back and the next guy is 39 seconds down so he has 30 seconds to spare,” said Delahaye.
“There’s three or four guys on 39 seconds and a few at 41, 42seconds so it’s pretty tight at the top. The top 10 are separated by 56 seconds,” he explained.
Yesterday morning’s stage saw a break of 10 riders go clear but that was whittled down to eight and Dunbar was present again. But because the stage winner was in the escape on Friday, he took the overall lead.
Related News
“There was a 2km climb in the middle of the stage but it was all up and down into it,” said Delahaye.
“It was very tough and that’s where the break went. It was a fast stage again; 43-44k average again.
“Everyone’s doing well, Michael is 8th in the first year junior category. Everyone is giving a very good account of themselves.
“We weren’t fully kitted out with TT equipment for this evening. We did get Eddie a disc wheel and helmet but he doesn’t have a full TT bike - that just shows how well he’s going.
“Tomorrow it’s all to play for, there’s five 20-kilometre laps with a climb in it again. It’s a demanding circuit, tougher than today and it should be warmer tomorrow so there’ll be a lot of tired legs out there.”
“There are hills tomorrow where Eddie can put the leader under pressure, but he’s strong. There’s enough hills tomorrow that if Eddie is in the right position and has the legs he can do what he does best.
“The Slovenians have a strong team and strength in numbers but Kumar’s their only man. It might come down to a head to head but we’ve to be alert to the Germans and the USA and Austria, they have strength in depth as well.
“That’s where the other boys come in. The lads have a huge job tomorrow, the agenda has been to race each day as if it’s a one-day but tomorrow is a little bit different.
“They need to be right next to Eddie and if he looks around and sees a couple of green jerseys, it gives him extra strength.
“It’s a tight unit, a great work ethic and atmosphere and they’re a good bunch. I think we’re sixth in the team standings, very good considering we’ve some new guys. They’ve really stood up to it and I’ve been happy with how things have gone.”
Topics
