Lara Gillespie was delighted with her 3rd place on a stage of her first Tour de France, with her team mates working to put her in position (Photo by Szymon Gruchaliski-Getty Images)

Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) has stepped up and sprinted against the best riders in the sport, in the world’s biggest race, to take 3rd on a stage of her first Tour de France.

The Irish rider may have done even a bit better with a little more team support. While she was positioned by her team mates in the final, she was left to surf the wheels when the gallop started.

However, just as she fought to 4th place on a stage at La Vuelta back in May, Gillespie imposed herself at the front today into Poitiers. She had the legs to make the efforts required to stay in contention in the final kilometre but still found more for the sprint.

Chloé Dygert (CANYON-SRAM zondacrypto) opened the gallop and pulled out a gap. However, as the others then kicked, it was yesterday’s winner, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx Protime), and stage 1 winner, and race leader, Marianna Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) who did the damage.

Lorena Wiebes of the Netherlands, in the green jersey, sprints in to win from race leader, Marianne Vos, with Ireland’s Lara Gillespie on the wheel of Vos and on her way to 3rd on the stage (Photo by Tim de Waelle-Getty Images)

They surged well clear of the others, with Gillespie, on the wheel of Vos, the only rider in the field who also gained significantly on the rest of the riders in the sprint; a very good sign for the Irish woman.

Gillespie had already made history on this race along with Mia Griffin (Roland Le Dévoluy) and Fiona Mangan (Winspace Orange Seal) as the first Irish women to ride the Tour de France. And, in taking a podium finish, Gillespie has left her mark on the Tour.

“I have to keep up with Ben Healy, somehow,” joked Gillespie. “Okay, 3rd isn’t a win. But it’s babysteps, OK? It was a tough day again, with lots of wind, but I’m so proud of my team.

“Getting on the podium at the Tour de France Femmes means so much to me. Thank you to all the girls, to those guiding us from the car, and to the entire staff – it was an incredible day.

“I wasn’t feeling my best this morning, but everyone believed in me and supported me, and this amazing result is also thanks to them. Thank you girls!”