Gillespie gives Wiebes a fright in arguably career-best sprint | Video

The 'Lara Gillespie 2026' looks like an even better version of last year and she very nearly put Lorena Wiebes to the sword today, running her all the way to the line (Photo: Luca Bettini-Sprint Cycling Agency)

Lara Gillespie (Team UAE ADQ) hasn't taken the win she wanted from her first race of the year, UAE Tour, but the Irish woman gave dominant Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime) a serious fright at Abu Dhabi Breakwater today.

Gillespie, who got badly boxed in yesterday and had to be content with 5th, looked furious with herself as she crossed the line today, knowing she had the beating of Wiebes but just coming up short.

She tried to pass the Dutch master sprinter on the inside before line. And while she gained ground on her, that finish line came up a little too quickly for Gillespie, with Wiebes holding her off by half a length.

Still, Wiebes almost always looks super human when she unleashes that incredible kick of hers, yet today was the day Gillespie showed she has the goods to beat her.

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Indeed, on the strength of the evidence today, it's now about when, not 'if', Gillespie will best Wiebes in a head-to-head gallop for a major victory. The Irish woman has now taken two 2nd places on the three stages so far in UAE, an excellent return at this level, though she could have won today and she knew it.

Irish national road race champion, Mia Griffin, is riding her first race in UAE for new team Picnic PostNL. She has been on lead-out duties for Italian Rachele Barbieri, ahead of getting her own chances later in the season. Barbieri was 25th today, with Griffin 69th, both on the same time as winner Wiebes.

Gillespie once again, like stage 1, had really strong support from her team in the final. They bossed the action and elbowed out SD Worx-Protime as the prominent team on the front of the peloton. Gillespie's protected rider status was clear from fact even GC favourite Elisa Longo Borghini got in on the act of working for her.

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Then, deep inside the final kilometre, Gillespie looked like she was on the wheel of Wiebes, only to lose it and then find it again, just as the final kick for the line began.

Wiebes, to her immense credit, triumphed again, for the third day in a row. But it is clear from her performances in recent days Gillespie has progressed further over the winter.

Wiebes is now locked into the Irish woman's crosshairs. She is definitely going to beat her at some stage, probably very soon.

More to come.

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