Dunbar runs on empty after stunning Vuelta win: "I thought many times that I wouldn't have a future in this sport"

Dunbar initially aimed for the general classification in the Vuelta. "But I had a very bad start to the race. I wanted to go for the GC, but I quickly realized I didn't have the legs for it. However, I was very well-prepared, so it was a matter of regrouping and trying to go for stage wins," said the 27-year-old from Banteer.

"This was an opportunity I didn't expect," he admitted honestly. "At the start of the stage, I spent a lot of energy trying to get away, so I actually thought I had already used up my chances. But then suddenly a big group went. Filippo and I rode very well and smart, and now here I am. I can't believe it."

Winning a stage like this without breakaway experience—how do you do that? "Honestly, it's been a long time since I've been in a scenario like this. I struggled on the climbs, but so did the others. I took a bit of a gamble by staying at the back of the group, but in the end, that turned out to be the right choice."

"I have a decent sprint, but I knew I had to try from further out. I went for it with 600 meters to go, which was still quite far from the finish line. I can't believe it," said Dunbar, who is coming out of a period full of setbacks. "Since last year's Vuelta, I've crashed a lot. That took a physical toll, but also a mental one. I thought several times that I might not have a future in this sport anymore, just because of those crashes and injuries."

This year, Dunbar broke his hand in the UAE Tour and suffered a nasty injury in the opening stages of the Giro d'Italia. "After the Giro, I had that feeling again: my knee was injured, and I felt like it could be the end of my career in this sport. But I've had tremendous support from my girlfriend, my team, and everyone else. I'm very grateful for that, and I hope I can repay them in some way with this win," he concluded.