Eddie Dunbar loses time after crash as Pogačar races into overall lead at Giro d’Italia

Eddie Dunbar’s chances of a podium finish in the Giro d’Italia all but evaporated after the Cork rider crashed during the second stage on Sunday.

He and three others hit the deck on a right-hand bend inside 65 kilometres to go. He looked sore afterwards but was able to remount and rejoin the bunch, only to slip backwards on the race’s first summit finish.

Double Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) confirmed his status as the race’s big favourite by attacking with 4.5km to go and finishing 27 seconds ahead of the next riders, who were led home by Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers).

The after-effects of Dunbar’s crash saw him suffer on the climb and trail in 51st, 5:56 behind. He dropped from 15th to 36th overall, 6:20 behind Pogačar.

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The Banteer rider was a fine seventh overall last year and was aiming to equal or ideally improve upon that performance.

Providing he gets the green light to continue from doctors, he may shift his ambitions to chasing stage wins.

Meanwhile, Pogačar has a commanding lead after just two days of racing. The Slovenian is 45 seconds clear of Thomas and Martínez in the overall standings heading into Monday’s third stage. It and the following two stages are likely to come down to bunch sprints.

Pogačar is aiming to become the first rider in 26 years to win both the Giro and the Tour de France in the same season.