RISING IRISH STAR Eddie Dunbar took the biggest win of his career this afternoon with victory on stage seven of the An Post Rás.
The Corkman, riding for the national team, edged fellow breakaway men Jai Hindley, Lucas Hamilton, Michael Storer (all Australia national team) and Clemens Fankheuser (Austria Tirol Cycling) at the end of the 155-kilometre journey from Dungarvan to Baltinglass today.
Dunbar started the day 19 seconds down on overnight race leader Fankheuser but when he escaped in the decisive break of the day as the riders crested the summit of Mount Leinster with 50 kilometres to go he found himself clear of the main field.
The aforementioned five whipped down the fast descent en route to the finish in Baltinglass while the chasing pack behind was led by elite national road race champion Damien Shaw and his An Post Chain Reaction team.
Shaw started the day third overall at two seconds and knew the race would disappear from his grasp if he didn’t do something so he summoned the strength to go off in pursuit of Dunbar and co.
He also had the help of top British team Madison Genesis as they had their rider Matt Holmes in second overall, also at two seconds in the same time as Shaw.
But the five up ahead did not hang around as it was in each of their interests to collaborate and share the pace-setting.
Dunbar was 14th starting out (at 19 seconds), Hindley was fourth (at three seconds), Hamilton was ninth (at 13 seconds) so Fankheuser had to keep a close eye on each.
But he rode a textbook race again and when the race came to a sprint it was clear he wouldn’t lose any time to those closest to him.
With three Australians in the move they definitely had a clear advantage but Dunbar used all of his strength to launch his sprint early and he held them off for a marvellous and morale-boosting win.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Dunbar. “To win a stage on a UCI race in your home country is a dream come true.
“I’ve watched the race since I was knee high and I’ve always wanted to be one of the ‘men of the Rás’ so it’s a great feeling to be standing here as one of them. ”
Commenting on tomorrow’s final stage, Dunbar admitted it would be a tough task to wrestle back the lead held by Fankhauser.
“The Australian guys are really strong and so are the Austrian team of Fankheuser so to overtake them on GC will be difficult.
“You just never know though, I’ll be giving it my all and we’ll see what happens. ”
Fankhauser goes in to the final day holding a three second lead over Hindley and a 13 second lead over Hamilton.
Meanwhile, there was no change to the jersey’s holders from yesterday; Hindley remains in the Under 23 jersey, Holler retains the KOM, Aaron Gate (An Post Chain Reaction) wears the green points jersey and Ian Richardson (UCD-Fitzcycles.ie) once again sits atop of the county rider classification.
Tomorrow’s final stage rolls out from Newbridge, Kildare at noon and takes the peloton through Meath on to the finish at Skerries.
