Vuelta a España Stage 19: Dunbar Turns Tough Season Around with Determined Mountain Win

Eddie Dunbar made up for a tough, injury-affected season with a big win at the Vuelta a España, winning stage 19 at Peñas Blancas Estepona.

The Irish Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling rider sparked off the day’s break, was part of a select four man group on the final climb and was the only one able to catch Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) when the mountains leader attacked with 2km to go.

Dunbar paced himself, gradually dragging Buitrago back, and then surging past him with about 300 meters to go. He put 14 seconds into the Colombian by the finish line, with teammate Thomas Gloag third at 23 seconds and Urko Berrade (Equipo Kern Pharma) fourth.

It was Dunbar’s first victory since he took two stages in the 2024 Vuelta a España, and put the smile back on his face after he crashed at of Paris-Nice, was a non-starter on stage 4 and was then hit by a scooter in Monaco.

He was off the bike for a long time and started the Vuelta saying that he was not in top form but hoped to gain strength as the race went on. That’s exactly what happened, although he admitted he didn’t feel good early on.

“I really didn’t expect this today. I even said in the team radio after about 50 or 60 k that today wasn’t my day, I wasn’t feeling good,” he said. “But then I ended up the break and my legs came around a bit.”

The stage saw the GC contenders clash on their second-last opportunity to fight for the podium places. Primož Roglič’s Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe drove the pace on the final climb and the Slovenian then kicked hard, but he was unable to shake off race leader Enric Mas (Movistar Team), or the other riders in the top five.

Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA GCM) led them in 5:11 back, with Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), Roglič, Oscar Onley (Netcompany Ineos) and Mas next across the line.

That sees Mas remain 1:37 ahead of Roglič with just one mountain stage to go. Gall is at 3:01, with Carapaz attacking hard on Friday to try to regain time but staying 5:17 behind.

The attacks fire in break and GC group

Stage 19 of the Vuelta a España was the second-last mountain stage and was destined for some big GC action. Roglič didn’t gain as much time as he hoped in Thursday’s TT and was determined to try again, as were Mas’ other big rivals.

“To be honest, it was nice. It was a big war, we had always somebody with me,” Mas said afterwards. “We had I think everything under control.”

GC aside, it was also a day for the break, with the American Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Emitate-XRG) amongst the early attackers. Dunbar bridged on the Puerto del Viento, along with several others, with Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) getting across too.

The peloton returned but not before Dunbar pushed ahead with 10.5km left on the climb. Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Emirates XRG), Thomas Gloag and Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) chased him and bridged, as did thirteen others.

Buitrago was present and had Bahrain Victorious teammate Pau Miquel to help him, while Berrade was with Kern Pharma teammate Mats Wenzel. Dunbar and Gloag had Marcel Camprubí (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling) for support, while Groupama FDJ United had three in Guillaume Martin, Rudy Molard and Bastien Tronchon (Groupama FDJ United).

Individual riders were Pablo Castrillo (Movistar Team), Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility), Sergio Samitier (Cofidis), Darren Rafferty (EF Education EasyPost), Darren Van Bekkum (XDS Astana) and Chris Hamilton (Picnic PostNL).

Carapaz was feeling good and led a chase group over the summit, sparking concern behind. Rafferty dropped back to help him but then had mechanical issues.

“Sepp and Richie, they really wanted to go for…I think it was more for the stage,” Mas said. “But they are a bit close in GC so we had to control them.”

Kuss on the move

Kuss was a concern for Onley, particularly as the two are relatively close overall.

“He was attacking so much that I think everyone in the bunch covered him at some point. He was really active and then Carapaz also toward the end of the break formation,” Onley said.

“Someone like Sepp, you don’t want him up the road even though he is four minutes down on me. Obviously he won the Vuelta by doing something like this, so everyone is aware of it now.”

The peloton wasn’t giving Carapaz any space either and he eventually sat up.

This prompted the peloton to ease back and the break gained more and more time, holding more than seven minutes starting the last climb.

Buitrago made his first move 13.1 km from the finish and was joined by Gloag and then Dunbar. Berrade closed soon afterwards. He surged again with 2km to go, with Gloag trying to close but being caught by Berrade and Dunbar. Dunbar then kicked clear and chased, but was still 10 seconds back with 1km to go.

However he had judged things perfectly, shooting past the Colombian with about 300 meters to go to win.

Roglič attacked behind but was unable to gap Mas, Gall, Onley and Carapaz, leaving the GC as it was before. That raises the stakes for Saturday’s final mountain stage, which should be dramatic and will be decisive.