Eddie Dunbar forced to abandon Vuelta as Groves takes stage win

Eddie Dunbar has been forced to abandon the Vuelta a Espana after crashing in the neutralised zone before the start of Wednesday's stage 5 from Morella to Burriana

Wed, 30 Aug, 2023 - 17:36

TJ Galvin

Eddie Dunbar has been forced to abandon the Vuelta a Espana after crashing in the neutralised zone before the start of Wednesday's stage 5 from Morella to Burriana.

The Corkman was sitting in 42nd position overall, 5:05 behind leader Remco Evenepoel, following a difficult start to the race.

The Team Jayco Alula rider crashed twice during Saturday's rain-affected opening team trial stage.

Dunbar had been fancied to perform well in his debut at the race, having finished an impressive seventh in the Giro d'Italia earlier this summer.

Dunbar's teammate Filippo Zana has also been forced to abandon during stage five after suffering stomach cramps.

Kaden Groves held off Filippo Ganna on the line to take his second consecutive stage win, meanwhile.

Groves got the perfect leadout from his Alpecin-Deceuninck team in Burriana but found himself challenged by Ganna, with the Italian freed from his usual duties protecting Geraint Thomas to test himself in the sprint and coming within a wheel length of winning it.

Remco Evenepoel picked up six bonus seconds late on the 186.5km stage from Morella to extend his advantage in the red jersey to 11 seconds from Enric Mas, with Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard now 37 seconds down in fourth.

The race returns to the mountains on Thursday with a 183km stage from La Vall d'Uixo to Observatorio Astrofisico de Javalambre.

#LaVuelta23

Unfortunately @EddieDunbar crashed in the neutral zone ahead of the stage 5 start and has been forced to abandon the race ❌

We’ll provide a further update soon. pic.twitter.com/q1bKgQ7XZ8
— GreenEDGE Cycling (@GreenEDGEteam) August 30, 2023