“He didn’t even shake hands with the winner, but he came up to me afterwards and said ‘well done’" - Eddie Dunbar recalls impressing Eddy Merckx as a youngster

Arguably the biggest legend in cycling history, Eddy Merckx has left an indelible impact on the history of the sport. One example of the Belgian making an impact that many might not know, is in the career Team Jayco AlUla's Eddie Dunbar.

Winding the clock all the way back to 2015 and the under-23 La Côte Picarde Nations Cup event, Dunbar was a fresh-faced 18-year-old riding for NFTO at the time. The Irishman attacked early, opening a big lead over the bunch and securing himself the King of the Mountains classification and the Points classification and the title of most aggressive rider. 

Whilst he was unable to hold on to victory, eventually coming home 42nd as Simone Consonni triumphed, Merckx, who was in attendance and spent time in the race director's car was incredibly impressed by Dunbar's performance and his words post-race left a lasting impression on the young Irishman.

“He was behind me for three hours in the car,” Dunbar told VeloNews in their Origin Stories series. “He didn’t even shake hands with the winner, but he came up to me afterwards and said ‘well done.’ He said that was very impressive. I think he liked it, it is what he used to do as a rider. Maybe he enjoyed seeing it again.”