World class Lara Gillespie takes podium result in first Tour de France | Video

Lara Gillespie has taken a stunning result in her first Tour de France, confirming her world class ability when the pressure was on (Photo by Szymon Gruchaliski-Getty Images)

Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) has confirmed her world class status, among the biggest company in professional cycling, by taking a podium finish at the Tour de France in her first appearance in the race.

Gillespie muscled her way to the front of the peloton for the bunch sprint that settled stage 4 into Poitiers today and claimed 3rd place.

Only Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime) and Marianna Vos (Visma Lease a Bike) were faster than Gillespie; the 24-year-old from Co Wicklow taking the final position in what as an all-star podium.

Irish champion Mia Griffin (Roland Le Dévoluy) was also well in the hunt at the finish today but got bumped around a little in the final kilometre and lost position, finishing in 25th. Fiona Mangan (Winspace Orange Seal) also finished in the bunch, in 28th.

Gillespie, Griffin and Mangan are the first Irish women to ever ride the Tour de France and were denied the chance to sprint yesterday when they got caught behind a crash with about 4km to go.

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However, Gillespie made up for it today by taking a podium finish on a day when the top three were notably faster than anyone else in the final gallop, after 130.7km of racing.

More to come.

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