Ireland's Lara Gillespie breaks into top 5 ranked track riders in world

*Lara Gillespie, a 24-year-old from Co Wicklow, is in the big time, on track and road, and is now among the very top tier in the UCI endurance track rankings (Photo: Alex Whitehead-SWpix)*

Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) is kicking back right now, though not for long, after an incredible year. In her first full season on the road in the pro peloton she established herself among the very best, and was getting close to the world's best sprinter, Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime).

On the track Gillespie won a European and world title; the first European elite title any Irish cyclist has ever secured and only the third world track title by an Irish rider, male or female. In the velodrome she has now achieved the kind of success only our iconic sportswomen have such as Sonia O'Sullivan, Katie Taylor, Kellie Harrington and Derval O'Rourke.

When the end-of-year UCI road rankings were confirmed, Gillespie, a 24-year-old from Co Wicklow, was in 28th place, which is incredible, especially as she is only getting started. However, on the track, she has done even better. Much, much better.

The UCI groups all endurance track riders in the same ranking. And Gillespie is now placed 5th in the global rankings, which is phenomenal. She currently has 4,568 points. And though her worlds and Europeans wins contributed a decent chunk to that tally, she scored points over the last 12 months in 23 outings.

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?? Lara Gillespie: World Champion ?

The Irish rider pips Britain's Katie Archibald to gold in the elimination race... and she is absolutely delighted ? pic.twitter.com/zwhtVQNhR2

— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) October 23, 2025

Gillespie's win in the elimation race at the Worlds in Chile last month was worth 750 points and her victory at the Europeans, in the same event in Belgium in February, secured 450 points.

In the omnium at the Worlds, her 6th place finish landed 650 points and her points race 12th place delivered 285 points. Interestingly, when Gillespie placed 5th in the omnium at the Europeans, that was worth 420 points, just 30 points less than her elimination race gold medal.

Gillespie's total and the contribution of our other endurance riders - all listed below - have ensured Ireland are now 9th-ranked national in the UCI endurance rankings.

The team pursuit rankings, which are standalone, show Ireland have slipped back a little, from 5th in recent years, to 15th at present.

UCI World Rankings | Top 25 Endurance Riders