Lara Gillespie has taken her first top five result at a Grand Tour after a brilliant ride in the final of today's penultimate stage at La Vuelta.
The European elimination race champion on the track came from a long way back - as he was outside the top ten inside the final 200m on the drag to the line - to force he way to 4th place on the stage.
UAE Team ADQ's Gillespie has clearly found her feet already at this level of Grand Tour racing as the peloton was trimmed right back on the run-in today, to Baltanás after 127km of racing.
The stage was won by Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) after a very tight finish right on the line from Mischa Bredewold (Team SD Worx-Protime), with Ally Wollaston (FDJ-SUEZ) 3rd, and then Ireland's Gillespie, the Grand Tour debutant.
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Though there were no categorised climbs today, there were three kickers in the final phase, with two of those crested 13km and 3.5km from the finish, inviting attacks - including from Vos - that really ramped up the pace.
As a result, the peloton was whittled down and numbered just over 50 riders by the time they reached the finish. Gillespie could be seen minding herself in the first third of the bunch, before trying to move up as the finish line approached.
Though she appeared to be trying to position herself, making progress on her own steam, she forced her way into the top 20 or so just before the finish, with a bend deep into the final kilometre.
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Gillespie effectively began the sprint about 15-20 riders from the front but had the legs to make huge progress in the drag race to the line, though the winner and runner-up were lengths ahead as they battled for the victory.
Though Gillespie has already ridden very well this season, including taking results in World Tour races, her placing today was by far her best ride of the week, showing her condition and recovery are first class as the races winds to a close.
Her placing today, though she just missed the podium, will also give her confidence she can take a stage at a Grand Tour, maybe this season and especially from a sprint after a difficult final.
More to come.
WOAH! That was close! Marianne Vos wins the 6th stage of #LaVueltaFemenina and takes her second stage win in a super close battle with Mischa Bredewold!https://t.co/arY4FOsBNK pic.twitter.com/6QyB1zoBoD
— Eemeli (@LosBrolin) May 9, 2025
