Eddie Dunbar moves up to 5th overall at Volta ao Alentejo

Eddie Dunbar (Axeon Hagens Berman) has moved up to 5th overall at the Volta ao Alentejo (UCI 2.1) after today’s 171.3-kilometre second stage from Monforte to Portel while teammates Chris Lawless and Ivo Oliveira finished fifth and sixth, respectively, to help the Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team top the team standings.

Dunbar was part of the day’s breakaway that did not establish itself until more than 70 of the 171.3 kilometers had been covered. The Irish Under 23 national time trial champion and two other escapees were reeled in five kilometres from the finish – the same distance from where he was brought back from a two-man breakaway on Wednesday’s opening stage.

The young Irish rider ended up finishing in the same time as stage winner Johim Ariesen (Metec – TKH Continental Cyclingteam).

“I am trying to give myself the best opportunity to get a result,” Dunbar said. “The courses are pretty flat for the next few days and I am hoping the wind will be a decisive factor. I went for a few time bonuses, but did not expect to get in a breakaway for 80 kilometers. I managed to get a couple seconds that moved me up to fifth, so that was good. At one point, I asked about sitting up to save my energy but my sport director (Koos Moerenhout) said you never know how it will go. So I stayed up there.”

Carlos Barbero (Movistar Team) finished second on the stage and takes over the lead from previous race leader Rinaldo Nocentini (Sporting Clube de Portugal/Tavira).

Today’s result follows on from yesterday’s gutsy performance by Dunbar where he attacked late in the race, but was still able to hang on with the lead group after being caught.

Dunbar is now 11″ down on Barbero and also takes over the lead in the young rider’s classification. He is also in second place in the Mountains classification with 12 points. Aldemar Reyes continues to lead the classification with 20 points.

The race continues tomorrow with a 208.8-kilometre stage from Mourão to Mértola.

Stage Result
1 Johim Ariesen Metec – TKH p/b Mantel 03:50:22
2 Carlos Barbero Cuesta Movistar Team + 00
3 Colin Joyce Rally Cycling + 00
4 Jan Tratnik CCC Sprandi Polkowice + 00
5 Christopher Lawless Axeon – Hagens Berman + 00
6 Ivo Oliveira Axeon – Hagens Berman + 00
7 Roman Maikin Gazprom – RusVelo + 00
8 Juan Sebastian Molano Manzana – Postobon Team + 00
9 Luis Carlos Ribeira Mendonça Louletano – Hospital de Loule + 00
10 Julen Irizar Laskurain Euskadi Basque Country – Murias + 00

GC after Stage 2
1 Carlos Barbero Cuesta Spania Movistar Team 07:54:18
2 Rinaldo Nocentini Italy Sporting Clube de Portugal-Tavira + 03
3 Eduard Prades Spania Caja Rural – Seguros RGA + 07
4 Krister Hagen Norway Team Coop – Øster Hus + 10
5 Edward Dunbar Ireland Axeon – Hagens Berman + 11
6 Daniel Mestre Portugal Efapel + 11
7 Rafael Silva Portugal Efapel + 12
8 Jan Tratnik Slovenia CCC Sprandi Polkowice + 13
9 Edgar Pinto Portugal LA Aluminios – Metalusa BlackJack + 13
10 David de la Fuente Spania Louletano – Hospital de Loule + 13