The Irish road racing community was rocked last month when it emerged a cyclist out training had been killed in a road traffic crash. And when it was confirmed the deceased was Gabriele Glodenyte, that sense of shock was deepened.
The 24-year-old had emerged as a very strong road racer last year, winning the Brian O'Loughlin Memorial, a round of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series, as well as taking overall victory and two stage wins at the Newry Three Day.
And now the organisers of the three-day race, Newry Wheelers CC, have decided to honour her memory this year, and into the future, with the Gabriele Glodenyte Memorial Cup.
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The winner of the women's Newry Three Day will be presented with the cup each year. That presentation this season is certain to be an emotional one the weekend after next as the road racing community is still reeling from Gabriele's death.
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Newry Wheelers said they "wanted to pay tribute to an amazing person and bike rider who was taken away from us way too soon".
A UCD Cycling Club rider, Gabriele was involved in a crash with a driver three weeks ago while she was training with her partner, UCD rider and former national track champion, Sean Landers. She was struck by the oncoming driver in a vehicle in north Co Dublin.
Tragically, Gabriele was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at Grallagh, Garristown. Her death remains under investigation by the Garda.
