Cork cyclist Eddie Dunbar almost captured the biggest win of his career at the Giro d'Italia today, finishing just behind Cesare Benedetti after a sprint finish.
Dunbar, who was only a late call-up to Team Ineos in the days before the start of the race, ultimately finished in third behind Damiano Caruso in second.
The 22-year-old was a member of a small group of competitors who broke away from the main group with 30 kilometres left in the race, but after a steep climb coming up towards the finish, Dunbar was left to fight it out for the places on the podium with Benedetti and Caruso.
All hail Cesare 🙌 @benedetticesare with his first ever professional victory ... and what a ride to do it 👏👏 #Giro pic.twitter.com/wkYMA2AHo8
— Eurosport (@eurosport) May 23, 2019
Jan Polanc, coming home in sixth, took the maglia rosa from Valerio Conti, his teammate, on the day with the latter falling back down the general classification table into third place.
Dunbar's fellow Irish rider Conor Dunne, of the Israel Cycling Academy, also had a solid race, going clear in a breakaway group early on but failing to keep up with the main protagonists of the race in the latter stages.
At his age, Dunbar's performance today represents a major statement for the Irishman who remains in the nascent stage of his career.
Tomorrow's stage, from Pinerolo to Ceresole Reale, will consist of a 196km trek, including a slew of harsh mountain climbs.
