Q36.5 lands major signing with Fred Wright, strengthening its classics ambitions

Dunbar previously rode with Tom Pidcock at INEOS Grenadiers and also knows Kurt Bogaerts well from that period. “When Kurt Bogaerts, who I know well from my time at INEOS, joined the team, my interest really grew. I know how he works. I also spoke with Doug Ryder about the team’s direction and their expectations. With Tom, they have a clear leader, which is always a good thing for any team. So this feels like the right time for me to bring my knowledge and experience to the table.”

“Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is clearly on the rise, and that’s a good sign. They race competitively, they go all in, even when they don’t win, and they create a great atmosphere by riding as a united team,” added Dunbar, who won two stages at last year’s Vuelta.

If it’s up to the rider himself, we’ll be seeing Eddie Dunbar at the front again in three-week races. “Grand Tours suit me because I tend to get better as the race goes on. I handle the workload of a three-week race really well. There have been glimpses of what I’m capable of, but due to crashes and illness, I haven’t yet reached my full potential.”

“That’s the goal for the next two years,” said the newly signed Q36.5 rider. “The team has already raced some big events, and I hope to contribute in the future. Winning a race is never easy, but if the opportunity arises, I’ll be ready to take it.”

Kurt Bogaerts, who knows Dunbar well, added some context on behalf of the team: “Eddie is a very interesting rider who I know well. He can climb, time trial, and naturally has a punchy style. He’s already shown great things in smaller stage races, but he also won two stages in the Vuelta and has frequently supported team leaders. He’s versatile and handles tough races well. I’m happy to have him on board,” said the Belgian.

“When we recruit, we don’t just look at numbers and results on the bike, we also look at who the rider is as a person. What kind of personality do they bring? With Eddie, we have someone who fits well in the group, is respected, and well-liked. He has huge potential in grand tours, which he’s already shown, and I believe we can help him become even better.”

On Tuesday, the team bolstered its classics squad further with the addition of British all-rounder Fred Wright. “I have been part of this team for my entire career so far and without discrediting them and all the opportunities I had here, it’s time for a new environment after six years. Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team feels like a good fit for me. I have known Tom Pidcock and Mark Donovan for a while and it feels the group they are building for the future is familiar already.”

“I have always loved races like Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. When I was 13 we travelled to Belgium to do the Flanders sportive with VCL. We watched on the Oude Kwaremont and it was so cool to see Tom Boonen win and feel the spirit of thousands of enthusiastic Belgian fans,” Wright recalled.

“Back then I didn’t realize I would be part of those races because road cycling is not the most logical choice for a kid in South London. Later on, I never could imagine a pro road career because my future plans were on the track with the aim of qualifying for the Olympic team pursuit. When my coach said I had what it takes to be pro, I was unsure at first but the coin flipped and I set my sights on road cycling.”

Q36.5 has no doubt about Wright’s potential. “Fred is an intelligent rider. He reads the races well and is very versatile. He has already achieved top tens in Monuments like Milan-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and adding a focused classics block to his season will be a big objective for us together,” said CEO Doug Ryder.

“He was close to wins in the Tour de France and Vuelta a España already, and I feel we can offer him the final step to win again. His engine is big and his attacking style is always great to watch. When we were looking for riders to strengthen the classics team, he was quickly on our radar. He turned pro young and still is only 26, so I am really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together in the next three years.”