First-year junior Eddie Dunbar takes Aquablue Classic against elites after 100km solo escape

Eddie Dunbar took off on his own for 100km and held off some of the best riders in the country at the Aquablue Classic

By Brian Canty

Eddie Dunbar has taken one of the biggest wins of his young career by soloing to a phenomenal victory in the Aquablue Classic in Minane Bridge today.

The O’Leary’s Stone Kanturk first-year junior rider attacked after just six kilometres of the six-lap 106kilometre race in south-east Cork and stayed away on his own for the remainder of the race, coming over the line with several minutes to spare on next placed Timmy Barry of the host club.

Barry’s team-mate Sean Lacey rounded out the podium.

The race, though not originally intended to be, was a handicapped event due to the small numbers, with the A3 group getting three minutes on the A2 bunch and they had a similar head-start on the scratch group.

Though the latter two groups merged on the third lap, Dunbar held them all off to take a fine win.

Having come second in Fermoy last weekend to Dylan Foley (NRPT Standard Life), Dunbar went one better today and the 16-year-old underlined his potential with was his first win of the season.

With a reduced field - possibly due to the harsh forecast that was predicted (but never materialised) and the 12% climb that punctuated each lap, many riders opted to avoid the race and with that in mind, the decision was taken to award the A3 group a very generous advantage.

And it became apparent from the opening lap that not many would last the full day as rider after rider streamed out the back, the hill claiming many riders while the strong headwind in parts didn’t make it any easier.

The A1s and A2s, of which there were around 30 in total, merged around the halfway point, with Lacey and Barry as well as Eddie Barry (Planet Tri), Barry Twohig (Blarney) and Mick Fitzgerald (Fermoy) all riding very strongly.

But not happy to stay intact and possibly merge again with the remnants of the A3 group, Timmy Barry, Lacey and Mick Fitzgerald tried to bridge alone. Eddie Barry tried also but was caught somewhere between that chase group and the remainder of the A2 group he left behind.

Meanwhile, A3 after A3 were swallowed up as the pursuit of Dunbar was clearly taking its toll.

But he was not for reeling in and instead he pulled out a gap that almost went to five minutes on his nearest chaser — by lap five, that was Timmy Barry.

Dunbar wouldn’t be caught. Timmy Barry crossed the line on his own in second, followed by Lacey and Mick Fitzgerald on their own while Dylan Foley won a sprint from a four-man group for fifth.

Eddie Barry came in on his own in ninth, with Limerick’s Mark O’Callaghan doing likewise. Waterford’s Paul Smith then led in a larger group for 11th.