Lara Gillespie, a prolific winner on the track as a junior and U23 rider, has just taken her first elite European title; muscling her way to elimination race gold in Zolder, Belgium, this evening.
She is the first Irish rider, male or female, to claim gold at the elite European Track Championships. Her achievement comes just months after winning her first medal at an elite Worlds.
Gillespie claimed bronze in the points race in Denmark last October - after three 4th places at last year's Europeans - and now has a European title to add to her collection.
The 23-year-old Wicklow woman, who rides for World Tour team UAE Team ADQ, clearly went into these championships in great form as she rode very strongly in UAE Tour last week.
She took her first World Tour podium after finishing 3rd at the end of a stage-long breakaway on stage 2, while also sprinting to 9th on both stages 1 and 4.
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Tonight in Zolder, the fight for the medals came down to the Irish rider, Belgian Helene Hesters and Dutch rider Lisa van Belle.
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It was van Belle who went out first, securing the bronze, after looking spent at the end of a long hard race. She was unable to muster a gallop for the line, as Gillespie appeared by far the most comfortable of the trio.
That left the gold-silver scrap to Gillespie and Hesters, with Ireland prevailing over Belgium; not a sentence we can say too often when a major title is on the line.
For the final sprint, Gillespie initially went high on the velodrome, clearly intent on diving down the banking and gaining momentum. But any suggestion it would be a tactical - or an evenly matched - final sprint was put to bed the moment the Irish rider kicked.
Her power instantly carried her well clear of Hesters, with a huge gap opening and the destination of the gold decided immediately. It gave Gillespie time to look back, make sure she had it, and then enjoy her big moment.
More to come.
Lara Gillespie battles her way to victory in the elimination race to claim the European title! ? pic.twitter.com/7PoZuGLgH7
— Eurosport (@eurosport) February 13, 2025
