Eddie Dunbar and Archie Ryan put in strong showings in Italian events

Eddie Dunbar followed on his prominent display in Monday’s opening stage of the Tour of the Alps with another strong performance on Tuesday. The Ineos Grenadiers rider was part of a select group of 16 riders who sprinted for the stage win in Lana, placing fifth.

He finished in the same time as stage winner Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) and was best-placed of his Ineos Grenadiers team.

Sixth place went to his team-mate Pavel Sivakov, who impressed in the day’s breakaway move before being brought back inside the final 10 kilometres of the mountain stage.

Dunbar’s participation in the race is his first since winning the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali in March, and shows his ongoing strong form this season. The 25-year-old is in the final year of his current contract and is seeking a new deal for the coming years.

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Bilbao takes over the lead of the general classification and is six seconds clear of Tuesday’s runner-up Romain Bardet (Team DSM). Dunbar is eighth overall, one of nine riders 16 seconds back.

The race continues on Wednesday with another mountain stage. This includes the first-category climb of Furkelpass.

Elsewhere in Italy, young Irish rider Archie Ryan had a promising showing in the GP Palio de Recioto under-23 event.

The French rider Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ Conti) soloed to victory 28 seconds ahead of his nearest chaser; Ryan was one of six riders springing for fourth place, and took seventh. His group was over a minute and a half clear of the next riders, showing to what degree the race broke apart.

Tour of the Alps, Italy (2.Pro)

Primiero/S. Martino di Castrozza to Lana: 1 Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) 154.1 kilometres in 3:56.04, 2 R Bardet (Team DSM), 3 A Valter (Groupama-FDJ), 4 F Gall (Ag2r Citroen Team), 5 E Dunbar (Ineos Grenadiers) all same time

General classification after stage two: 1 Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) 154.1 kilometres in 8:08.15, 2 R Bardet (Team DSM) @ 6 secs, 3 A Valter (Groupama-FDJ) @ 12 secs, 4 F Gall (Ag2r Citroen Team) @ 16 secs, 5 P Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers). Irish: 8 E Dunbar (Ineos Grenadiers) same time

GP Palio de Recioto, Italy (1.2U)

1 Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ Conti) 147.2 kilometres in 3:58.35, 2 E Andres Pinzon (Colombia Tierra de Atletas) @ 28 secs, 3 J Staune-Mittet (Jumbo-Visma Development Team) @ 37 secs, 4 D de Cassan (Cycling Team Friuli ASD) @ 39 secs , 5 D Piganzoli (Eolo-Kometa U23). Irish: 7 A Ryan (Jumbo-Visma Development Team) same time.