Irish rider Eddie Dunbar delivered an impressive performance to win the 11th stage of the Vuelta a España on Wednesday. Dunbar, riding for Team Jayco–AlUla, spent most of the 166.5-kilometer stage in a breakaway group. Despite struggling on the steep climbs, he surged ahead 600 meters from the finish line in Padron to claim his first-ever stage victory in a Grand Tour.
The 27-year-old Cork rider's unexpected move stunned his competitors, who were unable to catch him in time. Dunbar, known primarily for his climbing abilities, utilized his experience to make a decisive move, aiming for a long sprint despite the challenge of the final stretch. "I can't believe it," Dunbar remarked, reflecting on the unexpected triumph.
Quinten Hermans of Alpecin-Deceuninck and Max Poole from Team dsm-firmenich PostNL finished the stage in second and third places, respectively. Meanwhile, in the overall standings, Ben O'Connor maintained his lead despite a strong challenge from three-time Vuelta winner Primož Roglič. O'Connor finished 37 seconds behind Roglič on the day, but he remains 3 minutes 16 seconds ahead in the general classification. O'Connor acknowledged the difficulty of the stage and expressed hope for a return to form in the upcoming mountain stages.
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