'He has huge potential' - Eddie Dunbar swaps Jayco for Q36.5
Tom Pidcock's team makes a smart reinforcement by signing Eddie Dunbar from Jayco-Alula. The two-time Vuelta stage winner joins on a two-year deal.
Eddie Dunbar will ride for Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team in 2026 after signing a two-year deal with the team. The Irishman joins from Jayco-Alula, where he has spent the past three seasons.
“The Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is obviously a team on the up which is a good sign,” Dunbar said in a statement on Monday. “They are really competitive in the races, take it on even if they don’t win and create a good racing atmosphere riding as one.”
Dunbar cited the presence of Tom Pidcock’s coach Kurt Bogaerts on the management staff as an influence in his decision to join the Pro Continental squad.
“When Kurt Bogaerts, who I know well from my time at Ineos, joined, my interest was sparked even more,” Dunbar said. “I know how he works. I also spoke to Doug Ryder on how the team is going and what they expect. In Tom, they have a clear leader which is always good for any team, so it seems like a good moment now to join with my knowledge and experience.”
The 28-year-old has demonstrated his ability as a Grand Tour rider during his time at Jayco-Alula, placing seventh overall at the 2023 Giro d’Italia and then winning two stages at last year’s Vuelta a España, including the final summit finish at Picón Blanco.
Dunbar previously won the Tour de Hongrie and the Settimana Coppi e Bartali in 2022, his final season at Ineos. His career has also been blighted by crashes and ill fortune. A crash forced him to abandon this year’s Tour de France, and crashes also saw him abandon the 2024 Giro and 2023 Vuelta.
“Grand Tours suit me well because I always get better towards the end,” said Dunbar, who was within touching distance of the podium for much of the final week of the 2023 Giro.
“I absorb the workload of a three-week race well. There have been glimpses of what I can do but due to crashes and illness I haven’t reached my full potential there yet. That’s something for the next two years. The team has already done some big races, and I hope I will play my part in the future ones. Winning a race is never easy but when there is an opportunity, I am ready to take my chance”
Dunbar is set to line up at this year’s Vuelta for Jayco-Alula, while the race will also provide a further examination of his future teammate Pidcock’s Grand Tour credentials. The Banteer native is the first new signing that Q36.5 have confirmed for 2026.
“Recruitment is not only about values and results on the bike but also off the bike,” said Kurt Bogaerts. “What kind of personality does a rider have? In Eddie we have a rider who fits well in the group, is valued and loved. He has huge potential in Grand Tours which he has already shown, and I think we can make him even better.”
