Lara Gillespie celebrated wildly last night after winning the elimination race gold medal at the UCI World Track Championships in Santiago, Chile. But when she regained her compsure the world and European champion reflected over the journey and process that has made her, literally, a world beater.
At times dogged by illness and injury, especially as an U23, she took plenty of medals on the track at the Europeans - and at the Worlds as a junior - but fell short of Worlds gold medals. But having shaken off that bad luck, and put in a huge road season with UAE Team ADQ, she has long taken her place in cycling's top tier.
Her Worlds gold medal win was more confirmation - even a coronation - than it was a major breakthrough. She simply confirmed she was the rider we've always known she is. But as she celebrated with the Cycling Ireland staff, and her team mates, Gillespie was clearly overjoyed.
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"It's really, really special," said the 24-year-old from Co Wicklow, resplendent in her rainbow bands. "I'm so proud to do it for my country and I'm so proud of our small little team we have here. We're small but mighty, and I'm really proud to be here."
After the race was stopped twice early on, due to crashes, and then fianlly got underway for a third time, Gillespie said she tried to keep her head in the game following those interruptions.
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"I think it took focus, composure and I maintained my determination and belief throughout. I kept control of my breath and I kept believing," she said of a race in which she always looked comfortable before demolishing the final gallop for gold.
Gillespie added that, during the race, she felt she had what it took to come through and claim gold. And that remained the case when the field was whittled down to the final two; the Irish woman against Great Britain's Katie Archibald, who has a combined 28 European, World and Olympic track titles in her palmares.
"I had the confidence, and I think that's what took me there," Gillespie said of adding this world title to the elimination European title earlier this year and bronze in the points race at the Worlds last season.
She felt she had progressed - on road and track - because she has enjoyed a period of consistency in recent years.
"Consistency in my racing and I had that belief I could win. I took baby steps in every single race and I learned a lot from all my mistakes throughout the year."
