Eddie Dunbar’s Jayco Alula team raced to early success in the Giro d’Italia on Monday, with Australian Michael Matthews winning a reduced bunch sprint into Melfi.
Matthews outsprinted former world champion Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to the line, rewarding the faith of the team which had worked to set him up for the victory. The squad drove the pace on the hills inside the final 40 kilometres, thinning out the bunch and making rivals, such as Pedersen, work very hard to come back after being dropped.
Dunbar looked very strong on those hills, often sitting second or third in line in the bunch, showing good form and, also, making sure to stay out of trouble after being caught behind a split in the bunch in Sunday’s finale.
He rolled in 26th, with fellow Irishman Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) 21st. Both riders were given the same time as stage winner Matthews.
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Belgian world champion, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), retains race leadership, padding his lead over Primoz Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) by one second when he finished before him in an intermediate sprint. Dunbar moves up seven places to 19th overall, while Healy climbs 14 places to 32nd.
The Giro d’Italia continues on Tuesday with a hilly 175 kilometre stage to Lago Laceno. This features a 9.7 kilometre climb topping out three kilometres from the finish line, something which should help both Irish riders make further advances in the general classification. It will also give a clear insight into their form.
Meanwhile, multiple national champion, Robin Seymour (Team WORC), and Caoimhe May (Orwell Wheelers) were the winners of the senior 1 men’s and women’s races in round one of the MTB National Points Series held at Leadmines in Dublin on Sunday.
[ Jonathan Milan wins stage two of GiroOpens in new window ]
Seymour finished a minute and a half clear of closest rival Nathan Kurensky (Spin 11 – Chain Reaction RT), while May was ten minutes before Leah McCarthy (K Capital Rocky Mountain).
Round two of the series will take place in Fermoy on Sunday May 21st.
Finally, Spin 11 has been confirmed as sponsor of the under 23 classification in the upcoming Rás Tailteann, which begins in Navan on Wednesday week. The race clothing supplier has direct links to the history of the race via the involvement of the Connaughton family and that of Philip Cassidy. Brian Connaughton won the race in 1969, while Cassidy triumphed in 1983 and 1999. They founded the company over a decade ago.
“One of An Rás Tailteann’s most steadfast supporters over the years, Spin11 is assisting us again to get back on the road in 2023 with the same unwavering encouragement,” said Rás race director, Ger Campbell. “They were first out of the gates to express their support for Cáirde Rás Tailteann in 2019 and we are eternally grateful for their continued support in 2023.”
