Lara Gillespie hit a mishap but got back into the scratch race at the World Junior Track Championships.
Drama for Lara Gillespie at World Track Champs
Lara Gillespie endured more drama than she would have hoped for in the final of the scratch race at the World Junior Track Championships
The Irish teenager looked very comfortable but would suffer a mishap on the track in Aigle, Switzerland.
Gillespie, who was earlier 3rd in her heat, bumped off one of the Polish riders with 14 laps remaining and unclipped.
Furthermore, she had difficulty stopping before eventually getting clipped back in again and rejoining the race.
Gillespie then appeared to cross the line in a medal position at the end. But her result did not stand.
Had she stopped more quickly her unclipping may have been deemed a racing mishap.
In that case, she could have rejoined the group and continued the event with her chances of a medal intact.
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Lara Gillespie and the Pole make contact. They effectively bounced off each other, with both Gillespie's feet unclipping in the process.
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However, because she took so long to slow down and get clipped in before getting going again, she was deemed by the commissaires to have missed laps.
Her race status – of being laps behind – was not clear until after the event had ended.
And to further add to the confusion, one of the Australian riders who was at the back of the field was mistakenly assumed to be the leader of the race in the closing laps.
It meant the TV cameras followed her, even though she was actually off the back.
Because of that, there were no TV pictures of the leaders sprinting for the medals. And it was unclear for a long time who had won.
In the end, after a 20 minute wait, Korean rider Jieun Shin was deemed the winner. Marta Jaskulska of Poland took silver and Gloria Scarsi of Italy claimed bronze.
Gillespie appeared to finish alongside winner Shin; with another rider as a three-strong group ahead of the others.
And had that result stood, the Irish rider would have taken a medal. Unfortunately, she was credited with being laps down and recorded an official result of 18th.
That confusion and drama aside, she looked extemely confortable during the race.
And with the individual pursuit to come on Saturday, she has every right to believe she can have an impact.
Next up for the Irish is Shay Donley; in the men’s scratch race tomorrow.
When the Irish are racing
Thursday 16th
Men’s Scratch – Shay Donley
Friday 17th
Womens Omnium – Gabriella Homer
Men’s Points Race – Shay Donley
Men’s Individual Pursuit – Shane Higgins
Saturday 18th
Men’s Omnium – Shane Higgins
Womens Points Race – Gabriella Homer
Womens Individual Pursuit – Lara Gillespie
Sunday 19th
Womens Madison – Lara Gillespie and Gabriella Homer
Men’s Madison – Shay Donley and Shane Higgins
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