Lara Gillespie (Team UAE ADQ) has been enjoying a successful first full season on the roads of Europe, taking plenty of strong results, though the top step of the podium had eluded her. That changed today when the Irish Olympian won A Travers les Hauts de France (1.1).
The Irish rider came through a chaotic finish, after 127.7km of racing into Arleux-en-Gohelle in northern France. Avoiding a late crash, in the rain, she whipped through the front group and once she kicked for the line it was all over.
“I had a really good feeling today. The energy within the group was super nice and positive. I felt really supported, and we were always in the right position," Gillespie said after her win, the fourth UCI-ranked European victory of her career.
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"I made every front echelon, and as a team we worked to make the race hard in the wind. There were a lot of attacks, and we were present in all of them. I felt strong and stayed focused.
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"In the finale, I wanted to enter the last corner further up, but I got a bit boxed in. I managed to avoid the crash and still had plenty of power left for the sprint.
"I’m very grateful to all my teammates and the staff today and throughout the year. This win means a lot because I’ve had many podiums this season, but I was still missing the victory.”
Carys Lloyd (Movistar Team) pushed Gillespie closest, taking 2nd place, but the gaps at the front of the bunch were so large, nobody else finished on the same time as the winner and runner-up.
More to come.
