Nobody ever said cycling was fair, but the hardships that have rained down upon Eddie Dunbar over the years have seemed cruel even by the remorseless standards of this old sport. Samuel Beckett could have knocked out a collection of stories from the absurdities of ill fortune that have dogged his compatriot's career in recent years.
The latest and most stinging setback came in May at the Giro d'Italia. Dunbar had arrived in Italy with designs on improving on his 7th place finish of 2023, but his challenge was ruined on the second day when he was brought down by Olav Kooij on the approach to the summit finish at Oropa, injuring his lateral cruciate ligament in the process.
