"I’d say at one point I was probably done" - Eddie Dunbar reveals he had virtually made decision to retire before Vuelta comeback
Cycling
Eddie Dunbar signed with Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team last winter on a two-year deal but was close to ending his career halfway through the season. After experiencing another bout of bad luck, the Irishman didn't believe he was capable of returning to the top, until he once again won at the Vuelta a España - the race that has marked his career the most.
The reason for this was an ankle fracture suffered in mid-March. At that period of year, an injury with extensive duration immediately erases the spring period and Giro d'Italia from a rider's schedule - whilst the Tour de France becomes difficult. For Dunbar specifically, the three-month period on the sidelines without training would also automatically remove the Tour de France from the equation, whilst a return to top level was not assured to begin with.
“I had three months where I missed racing and a good bit of training as well, so I just thought it was probably a bit soon just to end the season after the Vuelta,” the Irishman said in words to Domestique, having his name planed firmly on the start line of Il Lombardia this Saturday.
It is a meaningful day as, this Thursday, his participation at Gran Piemonte was his day of return to the peloton. Dunbar fractured his collarbone one day after making an extraordinary comeback at the Vuelta a España - but didn't throw down the towel, and will still play a support role for Tom Pidcock in the final World Tour one-day race of the year.
“I know I’d basically got the whole Vuelta in the legs, even if obviously I missed the last stage, but it was just important just to get back on the bike and then to try and build up. And training’s gone well. Obviously, racing's a different story, but we’ll see how I am.”
Eddie Dunbar won Stage 19 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana
Dunbar on fractured collarbone recovery
“It did make it easier, funnily enough. I’ve broken my collarbone a couple of times now as well, so I knew it was kind of a quick fix, but having the win the day before definitely made it easier to take. I was trying to focus on that rather than on the crash, and that helped the recovery.”
Dunbar looked back on his second half of the season, in which he returned to the peloton at the Sibiu Cycling Tour in early July. The Irishman worked up to the Vuelta where it was quickly clear he could not challenge for the overall classification, but would instead chase stage wins.
Almost from nowhere, he beat Santiago Buitrago to take an emotional triumph on stage 19 to the Alto de Estepona - one of the Vuelta's most difficult climbs. This came as a total surprise, as he reveals the dark thoughts he's had throughout his time spent at home in the spring.
“I’d say at one point I was probably done, you know. Like, I probably kind of made the decision for a day or two. I can’t put a number on how I close I was or anything like that, but I was very, very close – as close as you can get, I think, to calling it a day," he explained.
“In the space of three months, I was able to get back to a level of winning a stage of a Grand Tour. That’s a massive confidence boost that I can take into the next few years, because most guys only take two or three weeks off now even in the off-season.”
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Dunbar has a clear goal for the off-season
Dunbar's recovery and return to his best form - even if momentary - proves to be a major improvement in his psychological state, as he is able to now take to the off-season without worries about his form during the 2027 season. Throughout the off-season, he will have a separate priority.
“I want to get married in November so that’ll take priority this off-season. There’s plenty of time build up through the winter, so I’ll take a normal break," he added.
"And even though I had a block without racing this year, it’s not a rest mentally when you’re injured and recovering and trying to get back. You’re off the bike, but that doesn’t mean you’re relaxed. So yeah, I’m just going to relax and enjoy the wedding.”
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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