Eddie Dunbar has shown the first signs of early season form today in France where he placed 15th on the uphill finish of stage 4 at Etoile de Bessèges.
The stage took the riders 145.47km from Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas to the top of the 4.6km cat 1 climb of Mont Bouquet. Last year’s Tour de l’Avenir winner Tobias Halland Johannessen (22) of Uno-X Pro Cycling Team took victory today after he emerged best from the select group that pulled clear on the final climb.
Dunbar rode very well and was perhaps caught out a little when he was poorly positioned as the first fireworks were let off with just over 2km to go.
At that point, Cofidis was on the front driving the pace hard for race leader Benjamin Thomas in the select group of just over 20 riders had formed at the front. Dunbar and Richard Carapaz were the only Ineos Grenadiers rider in the group.
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While Carapaz was sitting in the wheels in about 10th place, Dunbar was at the back of the group and was being forced to close gaps and others ahead of him were letting wheels go.
That cost the Irishman some vital firepower so close to the finish and he may have gotten a stronger result had he been a little bit further up the group.
With 2km to go, Jay Vine (Alpecin Fenix) was the first of the lead riders to pull the trigger; the Australian attacking and being track immediately by the eventual stage winner Halland Johannessen.
Those two pulled clear and were followed by 20-year-old Antonio Tiberi (Trek-Segafredo) as the group behind them split to pieces on the steep slopes as the line approached.
A seven-man chasing group, including race leader Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), formed just seconds behind the three leads, with Dunbar just off the back of that group and with Carapaz for company.
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Clément Champoussin (AG2R Citroën Team) managed to get across to the three leaders inside the last kilometre, but as he did Halland Johannessen attacked hard.
The 22-year-old from Norway arguably went a little early; over 200m from the finish line. While Vine managed to close the gap up to his back wheel, Halland Johannessen kept the pressure on and took the victory. Vine was 2nd, Tiberi 3rd and Champoussin 4th; those top four all finishing on the same time.
The chasing group behind them split in the final kilometre and filled places 5th to 14th, with Dunbar next; in 15th place at 33 seconds.
Race leader Thomas placed 11th at 23 seconds and that was enough to hang onto the leader’s jersey, just about. He is still at the top of the general standings, by seven seconds from Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost), with stage winner Halland Johannessen 3rd at eight seconds.
There remains just one stage in the race; the 11km TT tomorrow, Sunday, from Alès to Alès l'Ermitage. Dunbar lost time on the opening stages – when he was confined to team duties, including pacing Carapaz after his crash yesterday. The Irishman is 95th overall at 20:38.
