Lara Gillespie podiums in UAE with more lead-out support | Video

Lorena Wiebes celebrates at finish line as stage winner, just ahead of Lara Gillespie, far right, on the opening stage of UAE Tour (Photo: Tim de Waele-Getty Images)

Lara Gillespie (UAE Team Emirates XRG) has taken 2nd place on her opening race of the year, at UAE Tour, where Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime) triumphed again after winning three stages last year.

Gillespie began a breakthrough 2025 at this event 12 months ago - with a 3rd place and two 9ths - meaning she has already gone one better than last year.

Today she had notably more support in the final, including in the lead-out. However, the last rider perhaps peeled off the front, leaving Gillespie to kick for the line, a little earlier than the Irish woman may have liked.

Wiebes was behind her and passed her on the inside, in the gap between Gillespie to her right and the barriers to her left. In the end, Wiebes won it well; clearly ahead of the others who were sprinting for 2nd and 3rd.

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Gillespie took the runner-up spot, just ahead of 3rd placed Zoe Bäckstedt (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto), Maggie Coles-Lyster (Human Powered Health) in 4th and Martina Alzini (Cofidis) 5th.

Gillespie will be disappointed not to win and has made so much progress over the last year that a World Tour podium is no longer a surprise or a breakthrough result.

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Today’s effort confirms her early season form for a spring campaign where making an impression in the classics, and beating Wiebes at some point, will be the objectives.

Mia Griffin made her racing debut today for Picnic PostNL and was on lead-out duties for team mate Rachele Barbieri, who took 9th in the bunch sprint that settled the stage.

There are two more sprint stages to come before the uphill finish concludes the four-stage race on Sunday.

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