"Since the Vuelta last year, I think I had seven or eight crashes... That takes its toll" - Eddie Dunbar emotional after success on stage 11 of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana

After a slow start to his 2024 Vuelta a Espana, Eddie Dunbar sparked into life on stage 11, getting himself into the breakaway and then surprising the fast men with a brilliant late attack to take his first ever Grand Tour stage win.

“It’s weird how it goes sometimes… I had a really bad start to the race and I lost a lot of time. I came here to ride GC but I learned pretty quick that I didn’t have the legs to do it," the Irishman reflects in his post-stage interview. "My preparation was really good so then it was about reassessing and the stage win became an opportunity that I didn’t expect."

"It’s been a while since I’ve been in a scenario like this if I’m honest. I just kind of used my experience. I was suffering a bit with that steep climb then I realised everyone else was. I had Pipo [Zana] up the road so that kind of let me take the backseat. I just played my cards and I gambled," continues the Team Jayco AlUla climber. "I know on a finish like this, after a hard race, I can sprint but I knew I had to go long. 600 metres to go, that’s quite a bit long for a sprint! But that’s what I had to do… Unbelievable!"

"It’s incredible. Since the Vuelta last year, I think I had seven or eight crashes. And of course, physically, that takes its toll, but also mentally. I thought numerous times that I might not have a future in the sport, because of the crashes and the injuries I’ve had. This year after the Giro, when I injured my lcl, I thought that could be the nail in the coffin of my cycling career. But I have incredible support around me," he concludes emotionally. "My girlfriend is forever there around me and I have an incredible group of friends and family. They back me so much as well. It’s been a long time coming but to repay all of them today means a lot.”