Lara Gillespie puts in epic rescue ride for Le Samyn podium | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Lara Gillespie has put in a huge performance at La Samyn, being forced to rescue the situation late in the day by still taking 3rd place (Photo: Gianni Barbieux-PN-Cor Vos)*

Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) has taken 3rd place in the Le Samyn semi classic in Belgium, behind European road race champion Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime).

The Irish rider put in an epic performance in the final after making the front group following a day of high speed, mixed with pavé sectors and short sharp climbs.

Though Gillespie was close to the front at the danger moments on the run-in to the finish in Dour, when the lead group split with about 3km to go, as Team Jayco AlUla piled on the pressure, the Irish woman found herself in the wrong half.

However, she went to the front of the group she was in and strung it out in pursuit of the leaders. None of the riders sitting on the Irish rider were able to hold her. Gillespie blasted across a sizeable gap solo, latching on to the back of the front group with just 1km to go.

She then fought the good fight to get onto the wheel of Wiebes, throwing some nice shoulders and elbows as she did so. And while she lost the Dutch rider a little just before the final kick started, Gillespie still had the legs to sprint in for 3rd place.

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Wiebes was a deserved winner, with Gillespie just behind locked in a sprint battle with Linda Zanetti (Uno-X Mobility); the Swiss rider just about holding on for 2nd with Gillespie in 3rd.

More to come.