Tadej Pogacar spotted on mountain bike in Ireland as Slovenian attends Eddie Dunbar’s wedding

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider was among the guests celebrating Dunbar's marriage to his long-time partner Niamh this weekend, with a photograph from the wedding confirming his presence.

Pogačar was also spotted riding a mountain bike near Killarney in County Kerry on Saturday. Footage of the Slovenian quickly circulated online, prompting plenty of interest among Irish cycling fans.

His visit comes as little surprise given his close friendship with Dunbar, which has developed over several years in Monaco, where both riders are based.

The two regularly train together and also spend time away from cycling with their partners, Urška Žigart and Niamh. Dunbar spoke warmly about that relationship in an interview with Velo ahead of the 2025 Tour de France.

"We're very good friends off the bike," Dunbar said. "Myself and Niamh, we are close to him and Urška, and they're wonderful people."

Despite competing for rival teams, the Irishman has never hidden his admiration for Pogačar, particularly the way he has handled his rise to the top of the sport.

"He is just a good guy, and very humble in a way," Dunbar told Velo, adding that the Slovenian has remained remarkably grounded despite his success.

Their friendship was also evident earlier this autumn, when Pogačar returned to road training following his crash at the Vuelta a España. Dunbar joined the Slovenian and Žigart for the ride, with both male riders recovering from collarbone injuries sustained during the Spanish Grand Tour.

For Dunbar, the wedding also brings some welcome celebrations after a season in which he came close to ending his professional career.

The 30-year-old's first campaign with Pinarello-Q36.5 was badly disrupted in March when he was struck by a motorcyclist while riding a city bike in Monaco. He suffered a broken ankle and spent three months away from training, with the lengthy recovery taking a considerable mental toll.

In an interview with Domestique in October, Dunbar admitted he had come close to walking away from professional cycling altogether.

"I'd say at one point I was probably done, you know," he told Domestique. "I was very, very close – as close as you can get, I think, to calling it a day."

His return made what followed at the Vuelta a España all the more remarkable.

Dunbar claimed an emotional victory on stage 19, attacking from the breakaway before catching and passing Santiago Buitrago on the final climb to Peñas Blancas. It was his third career stage victory at the Spanish Grand Tour and came just months after he had been unable to ride a bike.

"I really didn't think that I would be here and even competing for stages," he admitted after the finish.

Yet his luck turned again just 24 hours later. A crash on stage 20 left him with a fractured collarbone, ending his Vuelta prematurely and adding another injury to an already difficult year.

In the same interview with Domestique, Dunbar had already made clear where his priorities lay for the remainder of the year.

"I want to get married in November so that'll take priority this off-season," he said.

After a year in which cycling had given him little respite, Dunbar had good reason to look forward to the occasion.