Eddie Dunbar, the talented 28-year-old Irish rider, has signed a two-year contract with the Q36.5 team for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, leaving Jayco-AlUla. The Irishman will join Tom Pidcock to form an exciting duo with Grand Tour ambitions.

Dunbar, who stood out in 2024 with two stage wins at the Vuelta a España, including the final mountain stage up Picón Blanco, represents Q36.5’s first major signing for 2026. The Swiss team is looking to strengthen its roster to support Pidcock and accumulate the points needed to secure invitations to WorldTour races and Grand Tours.

"Q36.5 is clearly a team on the rise, which is a great sign," Dunbar said. "They're very competitive in races and create a great atmosphere by racing as a real team. Grand Tours suit me because I always improve towards the end. I absorb the workload of a three-week race well. There have been glimpses of my potential, but due to crashes and illnesses, I haven't fully expressed it yet. That's the goal for the next two years."

Dunbar took his first steps in professional cycling with the Axeon Hagens Berman development team, before moving to Aqua Blue Sport and then Ineos Grenadiers in 2018. In 2022, he won the Tour de Hongrie and the Settimana Coppi e Bartali, demonstrating his qualities in stage races.

In Q36.5, he'll be reunited with Kurt Bogaerts, with whom he previously worked at Ineos: "When Kurt joined the team, my interest grew even more," Dunbar explained. "I know his way of working. I've also spoken to Doug Ryder about the team's plans. In Tom, they have a clear leader, which is always positive for any team."