"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."
Read also
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment