Irish emerging track star Lara Gillespie got Ireland's campaign off to a solid start at the World Road Championships in Yorkshire today.
A three-time European Track Championships medal winner this year and also a Worlds medalist this season on the boards, Gillespie was 20th in today's test.
It was run off over a wet and technical course in Harrogate, with the junior women racing over one lap of the 13.7km circuit.
Gillespie, who was 19th in the TT at the Worlds last year, clocked a time of 23:40.
That was some 1:24 off the Russian winner of the gold medal. It was a solid ride by her in what was a 50-rider international field.
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The medals went to Aigul Gareeva (Russia), Shirin van Anrooij (Netherlands), Elynor Bäckstedt (Great Britain); in that order.
Gareeva won the title by four seconds from van Anrooij despite going slightly off course close to the finish and probably losing about 10 seconds.
Bäckstedt, who rode the recent Rás na mBan and who was also 3rd in the Worlds test last year, was 11 seconds off the winner.
After her ride today Lara Gillespie has further business at these Worlds. She will ride the junior women's road race with Lucy O'Donnell and Maeve Gallagher.
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