Gillespie strikes high point as Euros also blood new Irish track internationals

Erin Creighton, Esther Wong and Aoife O'Brien - with Emma Jeffers - about to get into team pursuit action at the Europeans for Ireland (Photos by Alex Whitehead of SWPix and Martine Verfaillie)

Lara Gillespie was the queen of the European Track Championships from an Irish perspective, winning gold and coming close to medals in other events. However, the European title races in Zolder, Belgium, also proved an invaluable opportunity to try out new riders, and a new team pursuit line-up.

Gillespie, who won the elimination race after bossing the opposition all over the velodrome, and Mia Griffin went into these championships as the experienced riders. They had qualified for last year's Paris Olympics and also rode very strongly for their trade teams at UAE Tour two weeks ago.

But the inclusion of the other riders in this Irish national team was crucial for the future. Emma Jeffers was making her debut for Ireland and Aoife O'Brien, though far from a newcomer in the green of Ireland, was making her elite debut.

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Added to that, Erin Creighton was in action in her first major international assignment since being team pursuit reserve at the Olympics. Esther Wong was making her first appearance for Ireland at a major track championships.

Wong, Creighton, Jeffers and O'Brien comprised a new-look team pursuit line-up as the Cycling Ireland high performance coaches seek to expand the women's endurance group before the next Olympic qualification phase for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

We'll round up as follows in terms of the Irish results at the Europeans:

  • Women's Team Pursuit Qualifying | Ireland 8th, of 10 teams, and go through to 'Round 1' - O'Brien, Jeffers, Wong, Creighton
  • Women's Scratch Race | Mia Griffin 7th, of 19-rider field
  • Women's Team Pursuit Round 1 | Ireland (4:30.775) beaten by France (4:20.559), with Ireland finishing 8th overall
  • Women's Elimination Race | Lara Gillespie 1st, takes her first elite European track title
  • Women's Omnium | Lara Gillespie finishes 5th overall
  • Women's 1km TT qualifying | Creighton 10th, Jeffers 16th - of 19-rider field
  • Women's Individual Pursuit Qualifying | O'Brien 13th, of 19-rider field
  • Women's Points Race | Lara Gillespie 4th, of 18-rider field
  • Women's Madison | Griffin-Gillespie 5th, of 13-team field

The Europeans proved a very successful championships for Ireland, with a gold medal - the first ever for Ireland at any elite Europeans - while helping to bring several new riders into the fold.

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