Eddie Dunbar confident and inside the Top10 after tough Giro d'Italia days: "I know I can climb with the guys ahead of me"

Eddie Dunbar's maiden assault on the Giro d'Italia is approaching the midway point and though there are many twists and turns to come, he's more than pleased with the opening exchanges.

“Solid” is his rather modest one-word synopsis of the 1,400 or so kilometres of Italian tarmac he has covered so far, because the 26-year old Irish climber is flying high - if somewhat underneath the radar - in 9th overall after stage 10, just 2:32 minutes behind the race leader Geraint Thomas. Having survived the rainy days and Covid-19 so far, he has jumped up the GC significantly over the last couple of days.

Dunbar was more than pleased with how the race began for him: “I knew it was important to start well, just for the head and my legs were good in the opening day's time-trial. I got some good power out there on the flat and some good speed, and that was very positive."

As for his own plan of attack, Dunbar said he first needs to avoid contracting covid, and use his beans very, very carefully, what with three monstrous days in the mountains next week: “Let's see. This is a day by day thing. We've seen how quickly things can change, but for me, I know I can climb with the guys ahead of me and that's positive. I'm hoping a couple of them crack in the last week and I can get stronger and move up. I just have to control what I can and leave the race to decide.”