History made. And made in style.

Eddie Dunbar delivered the first Grand Tour stage victory in the history of Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team on Friday, conquering Stage 19 of La Vuelta a España at Peñas Blancas at the end of an extraordinary collective performance.

Thomas Gloag finished third and Spanish Road Champion Marcel Camprubí fifth, placing three Pinarello Q36.5 riders inside the top five on one of the hardest days of this year’s race.

It was more than a victory. It was a statement.

Across 210.8 kilometres from Vélez-Málaga to the summit finish at Peñas Blancas, the Team raced with intent, numbers and precision. After coming close repeatedly throughout La Vuelta, Pinarello Q36.5 committed fully to one of its final opportunities — and converted it.

From controlling the opening phase to placing Dunbar, Gloag and Camprubí at the sharp end of the decisive move, the race was shaped by collective execution. When the road finally pointed towards the 18.7-kilometre final ascent to Peñas Blancas, all three were still there.

Then came the winning move.

Santiago Buitrago attacked inside the final two kilometres, but Dunbar had kept one last effort in reserve. The Irishman responded, closed the gap and powered past the Colombian inside the final kilometre before driving all the way to the line.

Behind him, Gloag completed a superb ride to take third while Camprubí crossed the line fifth.

First. Third. Fifth.

And, above all, a first-ever Grand Tour stage victory for Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

The victory carries particular weight for Dunbar after a 2026 season dramatically reshaped by injury.

His original spring programme had been built around the Giro d’Italia, but after a difficult Paris-Nice, Dunbar was involved in an accident with a scooter while riding his city bike in Monaco on 12 March.

The ankle injury that followed left his leg immobilised and kept him completely off the bike for seven weeks. The Giro disappeared from his programme and what had been a season built around racing became one built around rehabilitation, patience and simply getting back on the bike.

Months later, on the roads of La Vuelta, that long road back ended with another Grand Tour victory.

For Dunbar, it is his third career stage victory at La Vuelta following his memorable double in 2024, when he won Stage 11 in Padrón before conquering Picón Blanco on Stage 20.

“It was really fast right from the start. We were doing 50 or 60 kilometres an hour for a lot of it and, to be honest, I didn’t feel good initially. I told the guys in the peloton that I wasn’t feeling great and that it probably wasn’t going to be my day.

“Then on the climb I saw a lot of riders starting to go backwards and that gave me a bit of a boost. Once the group came across with Thomas and Marcel, it was great to have them there and we worked really well together.

“Marcel made sure we were fuelled going into the final climb and Thomas and I were both really strong. When Buitrago attacked, I knew I had one good effort in me, so I saved it for the right moment.

“Thankfully, it worked out.”

Sports Director Alex Sans Vega described the stage as the culmination of an approach the Team had been building towards for several days.

With the remaining opportunities becoming increasingly limited, the objective for Stage 19 had been clear well before the flag dropped.

“We saw today as one of our last real opportunities to win a stage at this Vuelta and the riders were completely focused on it — not just this morning, but already for several days.

“The first part was mostly flat, which was not ideal for the riders we wanted to put into the race, but the whole team helped us keep the situation under control until the first long climb. From there the race opened up.

“Once Thomas made it across to the front group and Marcel joined shortly afterwards, we committed completely. We knew exactly which groups we could allow back into the race and which ones we could not, and the guys executed that perfectly.

“On the final climb, Thomas and Eddie spoke to each other and were able to alternate their moves because both of them still had the legs. In the end it worked perfectly for Eddie.

“It was a huge performance by the whole team and I think we earned this. Nobody gave us anything. The commitment these riders have shown since the beginning of La Vuelta has been incredible, and today they got the reward they deserved.”

Pinarello Q36.5 arrived at La Vuelta with a simple brief: hunt stages, race aggressively and take opportunities.

For three weeks, the Team attacked that objective relentlessly. There were breakaways, top results and days when the difference between coming close and winning was brutally small.

On Stage 19, there was no near miss.

There was a victory.

There were three riders in the top five.

And there was a piece of Team history.

Race Sharp. History made.

#RACESHARP