By Shane Stokes
Lorena Wiebes is undoubtedly the best sprinter in cycling today, both within the women’s and men’s peloton, with a success rate that thus far has earned her a staggering 121 career wins.
Three of those came at last week’s UAE Tour Women, where she was first to the line on the opening three days. On two of those her closest competitor was the Irishwoman Lara Gillespie, who finished about half a bike length behind her on Saturday.
Gillespie was frustrated afterwards with the near-miss but expressed good confidence afterwards, indicating that she can really challenge Wiebes this year.
“We are getting closer,” the Enniskerry cyclist said after the stage. “The hope is there and the belief is there.”
One of those who believe in Gillespie’s chances is former world number one Sean Kelly. He has followed her career and sees a rider with the drive and ability to succeed.
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“She is really performing excellent, because she has come up very quickly from last year,” Kelly told Stickybottle. “She has made big steps forward in finishing like that. We know that Wiebes is just super in the sprints, so to be that close shows Gillespie is having an excellent start to the season.
“It is looking really good that she will win a few good races this year.”
Thus far Gillespie has notched up five international pro wins, including the 1.1-ranked Antwerp Port Epic Ladies in 2024 and A Travers les Hauts de France last September.
She was also third on a stage of the Tour de France Femmes last year plus runner-up in three single day events. She also took the elimination race at the track world championships in October.
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Now 24 years of age, Gillespie is heading into her second full year as a WorldTour rider and is stronger and more ambitious than before. Beating Wiebes is a major goal for her, and going close on stage 3 of the UAE Tour Women will help her believe she can do it.
Kelly, too, sees it as possible.
“I think Wiebes is going to be difficult to beat, because the way they prepare the sprint within that team,” he said. “But when you see how close she got [at the UAE Tour], definitely she can beat her. Every sprint is a different one.
"She could get better positioning and maybe Wiebes gets a little bit obstructed in the final. She could beat her in that way, but she could also beat her in a straight sprint because Wiebes also can have a day when she could not be at her best.
“When you see how close Gillespie finished today, she will win races. And there is a possibility that she could beat Wiebes in some of those sprints during the year.”
Big strength in depth
Kelly and Stephen Roche won almost all of the top races in cycling in the 1980s. That era also saw Martin Earley and Paul Kimmage compete, and is recognised as the golden era of Irish cycling.
However even if the top Irish riders such as Ben Healy, Eddie Dunbar and Sam Bennett have not quite matched those heights in recent years, it is undoubtedly the case that there is much bigger range nowadays than compared to the 1980s.
Healy, Dunbar, Bennett, Ryan Mullen, Archie Ryan, Darren Rafferty, Dillon Corkery and Rory Townsend are all with big pro teams, while Gillespie, Mia Griffin, Fiona Mangan, Caoimhe O’Brien, Aoife O’Brien and Emma Jeffers are also with UCI squads.
Kelly recognises that strength in depth as being the best-ever for Irish cycling. That’s important in itself, but also for the future direction of the sport here.
“When you look across the women and the men, the numbers we have got now and in the development squads are impressive,” he said. “There are riders there coming through. It is definitely really good times and it is looking good for the future.
“Back in the past you had two or three riders, maybe four, whereas now we have the numbers. That is always the great thing. The numbers are definitely there and I think it is going to be an interesting time in the next couple of years.”
