Eddie Dunbar extends overall race lead in Italy

Ireland’s Eddie Dunbar has successfully defended his overall lead in the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali in Italy, finishing second on the hardest stage of the race.

The Corkman rode aggressively on the final 12km climb to the top of the Serra San Marco climb in San Marino, attacking in the final kilometres with British rider Simon Carr (EF Education-EasyPost).

They were hauled back by UAE Team Emirates riders Marc Hirschi and Diego Ulissi plus Dunbar’s Ineos Grenadiers’ team-mate Ben Tulett, with the latter then unleashing a strong attack inside the final kilometre and a half.

He held to take the stage win, with Dunbar holding off the others in finishing second and making it a one-two for the team. He was three seconds behind Tulett with Swiss rider Hirschi a further two seconds back in third.

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Dunbar has been in excellent form in the five-day event, finishing second on the opening stage on Tuesday and then taking over the race lead on Wednesday’s second leg. He started Thursday’s stage six seconds clear of another Ineos Grenadiers rider Ethan Hayter, but the Briton lost over a minute and slipped back.

Dunbar now leads Tulett by nine seconds overall. He had been just six seconds ahead of Hayter prior to the stage, so has a bigger lead over the second-placed rider now. Hirschi is third, 24 seconds behind.

Friday’s lumpy stage starts and finishes in Montecatini, and includes a second category climb about halfway through plus eight ascents of the smaller Vico Hill. The race concludes with another lumpy stage on Saturday.

Dunbar’s talent has been apparent for many years but due to a combination of crashes and illnesses, he has yet to fully deliver on his potential. His showing in Italy marks a new high, not least because it marks the first time he has led a stage race overall since turning professional.

Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, Italy (2.1)

Stage 3, San Marino to San Marino: 1 B Tulett (Ineos Grenadiers) 147 kilometres in 4 hours 12'34", 2 E Dunbar (Ineos Grenadiers) 3", 3 M Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) 5", 4 S Carr (EF Education-EasyPost) 7", 5 A Tiberi (Trek-Segafredo) 12"

General classification after stage 3: 1 Eddie Dunbar (Ineos Grenadiers) 12 hours 37'11", 2 B Tulett (Ineos Grenadiers) 9", 3 M Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) 24", 4 S Carr (EF Education-EasyPost) 30", 5 A Tiberi (Trek-Segafredo) 45"

Points classification: 1 Ben Tulett (Ineos Grenadiers) 16, 2 E Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers) 16, 3 E Dunbar (Ineos Grenadiers) 16

Mountains classification: 1 Andrea Garosio (Biesse-Carrera) 24, 2 M Cattaneo (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) 20, 3 E Zardini (Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli) 18

Irish: 4 E Dunbar (Ineos Grenadiers) 11

Young rider classification: 1 Ben Tulett (Ineos Grenadiers) 12 hours 37′20″, 2 M Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) 15″, 3 S Carr (EF Education-EasyPost) 21″