Irish results in full: U23 & Junior European Track Champs 2021

*The Irish junior and U23 selections are the Europeans took in a wide variety of events, including the madison (above) and the return of the team pursuit*

The Irish came away with one medal from the U23 & Junior European Track Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, after Lara Gillespie claimed silver in the U23 individual pursuit.

The selection of such a large team was a welcome development after last year, when the juniors in particular saw their international racing opportunities evaporate due to the pandemic.

*Lara Gillespie took silver in the individual pursuit. Above, congratulating gold medal winner Silvia Zanardi of Italy*

And while Ireland obviously would have liked to see more medals coming back from the championships, many riders got their first opportunity at this level and these Euros and that should stand them in good stead going forward.

The addition of junior women's and men's team pursuit line-ups was also great to see as it is an event off which many national federations based a lot of their track resources and development and hopefully Ireland can be the same in coming years.

Irish at European Champs 2021

Men’s U23

Harvey Barnes – 15th 1km TT | 16th Elimination Race | 20th Sprint
Chris Donald – 16th Elimination Race | 22nd 1km TT
Cian Keogh – 14th Scratch Race | 18th Individual Pursuit

Women’s U23

Lara Gillespie – 2nd Individual Pursuit | 10th Points Race
Gaby Homer – 7th Individual Pursuit | 11th Scratch Race | 13th 500m TT | 15th Elimination Race

Junior Men

Stefan Caulfield Dreier – 18th Omnium | 27th Individual Pursuit
Odhran Doogan - 15th Scratch Race | 17th 1km TT | 25th Individual Pursuit | 12th Madison
Niall McLoughlin - 14th 1km TT | 12th Madison
Patrick O’Loughlin – 18th Points Race | 18th Elimination Race
Team Pursuit – 12th

Junior Women