Beyond the seasonal debut of Kyrylo Tsarenko, the recently concluded Sibiu Tour also marked the return to racing of another rider who has been absent from the finish lines of major international calendar races for several months, namely Eddie Dunbar.

The Irishman from Pinarello-Q36.5, seventh at the 2023 Giro d'Italia and winner of five professional races in his career, has not appeared in competition since last Paris-Nice when he withdrew prematurely after three stages due to the aftermath of a crash he suffered during the second stage. However, keeping him away from racing for more than three months was not only the consequences of that tumble but also, if not especially, the lingering effects of a scooter accident he was involved in during spring on the roads of Monaco.

With an ankle out of commission for a long time, Dunbar had to wait a long time (and miss the Giro d'Italia) to receive the all-clear from doctors to resume training and thus begin serious work on a program for the second part of the season, which he inaugurated (contrary to what he himself thought) with his effort in Transylvanian territory.

"My return at the Sibiu Tour went much better than expected because I had good sensations throughout all four racing days" the twenty-nine-year-old from Banteer told our microphones, commenting on the results he achieved during the four-day event in Eastern Europe, which he concluded with a respectable fifteenth place in the general classification.

"In theory, I wasn't supposed to race until San Sebastian, but the last few weeks of training have gone quite well and, with the opportunity to race in Romania presenting itself, we said to ourselves 'why not put the number on my back and see where I stand?'" Dunbar revealed, now ready to set his sights on the Spanish races in August and September.

"Now I'll head back home and get back to work to gradually improve my condition. After that, I'll do the entire Spanish block by participating in San Sebastian and Vuelta a Burgos before the Vuelta a España, which is clearly the most important race. That's where I'm aiming to perform well. I still have seven to eight weeks to fine-tune my form ahead of this appointment and I think that's a realistic goal. I want to dedicate myself completely to it to try to give 100% of myself. That's the plan" continued the former Jayco AlUla rider who, speaking about his long period away from racing, tried to see the glass as half full.

"In light of what awaits me in the coming months, I think being away until now could have a positive side. The period I had to stay away from racing is indeed always a complicated phase of the season to race in and, having skipped it, I can certainly arrive fresh and in good form at the Vuelta. As long as I remain consistent in training over the next few weeks and continue to progress, that's the fundamental thing" Dunbar concluded with determined resolve.

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