Dunbar forced to abandon Volta ao Algarve after stage 1 crash

It hardly needs saying, but cycling is a cruel business. Three days ago, Eddie Dunbar animated the final stage of the Tour de la Provence with a determined attack that was only snuffed out in the closing kilometre, a promising harbinger for the season ahead. On Wednesday afternoon, the Irishman was forced to abandon the Volta ao Algarve after crashing heavily in finale of stage 1.

Dunbar was one of many riders to come down in the mass crash that took place a little over seven kilometres from the finish in Lagos. The Banteer native was unable to continue after sustaining a suspected dislocated shoulder and a head injury, and he was taken directly to hospital.

"Eddie went down with all the others in a large crash, he reckoned there could have been up to 80 riders in there, and four of our riders went down," Team Sky doctor Richard Usher said in a statement on the team site.

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"Eddie had a bang on the head, but he's just got a very painful left shoulder and it looks like it may be dislocated. He's gone off to hospital for some X-rays and we'll take it from there."

Dunbar has previously highlighted the need for greater awareness surrounding the treatment of head injuries in cycling, pointing to the lengthy period of convalescence that he required after suffering a concussion at the 2017 GiroBio. The 22-year-old joined Team Sky last September following the demise of Aqua Blue Sport and has impressed in his opening races with the team.

Fellow Sky riders Tao Geoghegan Hart, Ian Stannard and Wout Poels also went down in the same crash as Dunbar, but all three finished the stage and will continue in the race on Thursday.

Degenkolb and Stuyven

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