"I imagine I'd go there and support Ben O’Connor" - Eddie Dunbar set for super-domestique role on Tour de France debut?
Cycling
Irish climber Eddie Dunbar was one of the stars of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, winning a pair of stages. Another one of the stars of that race, Ben O’Connor is one of Dunbar's newest teammates at Team Jayco AlUla for 2025.
"I noticed in the 2024 Vuelta he's very good at positioning himself on the climbs," Dunbar says of the Australian in conversation with Cycling News. "A lot of the top climbers are good at doing that, they don't waste any energy, it makes a big difference - not having to ride for five minutes at the bottom at whatever power it is. When you want to take every possibility of winning at a bike race, you have to be in the right position. Ben did that really well in the Vuelta and it almost paid off in the end."
Although he's had solid performances at the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana for Team Jayco AlUla in recent years, Dunbar is still yet to make an appearance at the Tour de France. Aged 28 though, 2025 looks set to be the year of his Tour de France debut. "A lot can change between now and then but I'll be ready for the Tour," Dunbar previews. "It hasn't been finalised, but I imagine I'd go there and support Ben - he's been fourth in the Giro and Tour, second in the Vuelta."
"The Tour's a race where you need support far into the mountains, and maybe if I have the opportunity to go for a stage, it would be nice to get a chance to do that," the Irishman adds. "I'll go for it, make the most of it."
"Everyone knows the Tour is stressful enough as it is, so to go there and start it is a big thing, anyway," he concludes. "I'll go there, perform and do the best for the team, help Ben fight for a podium: which he's more than capable of doing."
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