She's done it! Lara Gillespie celebrates an historic first for Ireland on the track in Aigle at the European Track Cycling Championships.
Lara Gillespie crowned European champion on track
Having already won a silver medal at the European Track Cycling Championships in Switzerland Lara Gillespie has now won gold.
The Irish teenager is the new European champion in the junior women's point race; lighting up the track in Aigle with a powerful display.
Gillespie becomes the first Irish rider to win a European track title since Sam Bennett, now a top professional rider, won the same event 10 years ago.
Lara Gillespie is also now the first Irish woman to win an individual championship gold medal on the track at junior, U23 or elite level.
Today she saw off Olha Kulynych of the Ukraine and Poland's Marta Jaskulska.
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Gillespie, who was also 4th in the omnium yesterday despite a crash, laid down her marker with a strong attack midway through her points race.
On her way to the title, she took a half a lap during that attack. And while off the front she won two sprints.
The Irish junior road race champion, four-time junior national track champion and elite national cyclocross champion was in the driving seat after claiming those two sprints.
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However, as is the case at this level; other classy riders with loitering with intent and waiting for their opportunity.
And so it came to pass; the eventual silver medal winner - Ukrainian Kulynych – attacking hard to take the fight to her Irish rival.
Immediately she went off the front she look dangerous and she would gain a lap. That scored her 20 points and put her in the lead at Gillespie’s expense.
However, Lara Gillespie has already shown in recent days she has the head, and not just the physical ability, to perform to her best on the biggest stage.
She had already broken her personal best and national record in the final of the pursuit; the gold medal being on the line not unsettling her.
And this time with a gold medal literally on the line in the final sprint, Gillespie came through with flying colours.
She needed to win that last sprint; and win it she did. Crossing the line first she again shot to the top of the leader board to claim her European crown.
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