“I was just moving around on my city bike” Dunbar explains. “A scooter came from my left side, did not respect the right of way, and basically sent me flying. At first, I didn’t think it was anything too serious. But after a few seconds my ankle started turning blue and I immediately understood that something was wrong.”

Hospital checks confirmed the extent of the problem, and with it came the hardest part: accepting that the plan he had built his early season around was gone.

“It was a really difficult period” he says. “From the beginning of the season, the Giro was my main objective. Suddenly, that was no longer possible. I had seven weeks completely off the bike. I wanted to keep working physically, but with my leg immobilised there was very little I could do, apart from some upper-body work — which is not always ideal for a cyclist.”

For a rider used to measuring progress in watts, kilometres and race days, the hardest challenge became mental rather than physical.

“I found myself without a real target, without anything concrete in front of me, apart from recovery. That is not easy. As a rider, you are used to having structure every day. Suddenly the structure becomes very different: treatment, patience, small steps and trying not to rush.”

The return began slowly. First short walks, then careful sessions on the rollers, with every detail controlled.

“At that stage with rollers, hydration and recovery were really important” Dunbar says. “Even when you are not training properly, your body is still working hard to repair itself. I had to make sure I was taking care of the basics: staying hydrated, replacing what I needed, and using the right Amacx products to support that process. You don’t want to lose more than you already have.”

Now, after three weeks back on the road, the Irishman is finally moving in the right direction again.

“There is still a mountain of work in front of me before I can be competitive again” he says. “I know that. But at least now I am back doing what I need to do. I can ride my bike again, I can start building properly, and I can feel like a cyclist again.”

For now, the focus remains entirely on the process rather than the outcome. The next milestones are still hypothetical and will depend on the work completed over the coming weeks and, most importantly, on how his body responds to the increasing training load.

A return to racing later this summer could be an option, with races such as the Vuelta a Burgos or the Clásica de San Sebastián among the possibilities. However, no decision has been made and every step will be taken with patience and precision.

“The important thing is not to rush” Dunbar says. “After spending so much time away from racing, it would make no sense to skip stages in the recovery process. We need to build things properly and make sure every block of work is completed before thinking about the next one.”

Looking further ahead, one race naturally stands out on the horizon: the Vuelta a España.

The Spanish Grand Tour holds special memories for Dunbar. In 2024, he enjoyed the best performances of his professional career, winning Stage 11 to Padrón and Stage 20 atop the legendary Picón Blanco, establishing himself among the strongest climbers in the race.

“The Vuelta is a race I really love” he says. “I have some great memories there and, of course, I would love to be back. But first I need to earn that opportunity through training. There are no shortcuts.”

The ambition has not changed. Only the road towards it has become longer.

“I can’t wait to push hard on the pedals again in training” Dunbar says. “And more than anything, I can’t wait to put a race number back on the pocket of my Q36.5 jersey.”

After months defined by patience, rehabilitation and countless small victories away from the spotlight, the objective is not simply to return to racing — it is to return ready.

At Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, being Race Sharp is not about coming back quickly. It is about coming back properly. For Eddie Dunbar, that process is underway. One ride, one training session and one step at a time.