Lara Gillespie has added another silver medal at the
European Track Championships to her palmares after the individual pursuit in
Gent, Belgium, today.
She has also set a new personal best and national record
in the event; a clear sign she can perform at her very best when under extreme
pressure.
Only Elynor Backstedt could beat her today. The British
rider a bronze medal winner in the TT at the road Worlds last year and has also
been cleaning up in European road races this season.
On the opening day of the junior and U23 European Track Championships
on Tuesday, Gillespie claimed silver in the scratch race behind one of the
Poles.
Today she was in individual pursuit action and was second
fastest in qualifying in a time of 2:22.037, with Backstedt doing 2:19.553.
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As they were fastest and second fastest in qualifying, they went through to the gold-silver ride off this evening.
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Backstedt again beat Gillespie in that head-to-head for gold and silver this evening.
The British girl rode the pursuit in a time of 2:18.288 and took the gold medal for her efforts.
Gillespie went
fasted in the ride-off than she had in qualifying. And her time of 2:21.579
this evening earned her the silver medal, a personal best and a new national
record.
In the battle of
the two Italians for the bronze medal; Camilla Alessio came out on top
and relegated compatriot Sofia Collinelli to 4th place.
Gillespie adds the medal show won today to her scratch
race silver of Tuesday, her silver in the pursuit of last year and her gold of
12 months ago in the points race.
As an U16 rider she also showed her international class
early when she claimed a silver medal in the TT at the European Youth Olympics.
That’s five medals she has won to date at major international
championships; unprecedented for an Irish junior.
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