News

Concluding what has been another excellent week for Irish cycling, Lara Gillespie once again took to the track in the final day of racing at the 2024 Tissot UCI Track World Championships in Ballerup, Denmark.

Ending the championships on a high Gillespie finished third in the Women’s Points Race, claiming her first ever senior championship medal. This result adds to her success from earlier in the week when the Co. Wicklow rider recorded three top ten placings at the championships.

The Points Race consists of 80 laps and includes a sprint lap every ten laps, each of which offers points to the first five riders across the finish line. Riders can also win 20 points if they successfully gain a lap on the peloton.

Gillespie won three points in the opening sprint. An early lap gain for Jennifer Valente for the USA, Mizuki Ikeda for Japan and Alexandra Manly for Australia saw these three riders gain an early advantage.

New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston may not have been part of the group to take the first lap gain, but her excellent form which has seen her claim two gold medals at these championships continued as she dominated in the sprint laps.

A lap gain and a sprint victory at the midway stage saw Gillespie move into second place, with just ten points separating the top eight riders.

Strong riding from reigning World Champion Lotte Kopecky for Belgium kept her in the mix for a medal as well. Julie Leth for the home nation claimed a second lap gain putting her at the top of the leaderboard as the race entered the final stages.

Gillespie gained more sprint points to keep her in the top five and an excellent finish saw her add ten points to her tally by winning the final sprint which is worth double points.

Victory went to Leth on a final score of 43, Kopecky was second on 40 and Gillespie completed the podium on 39.

Speaking afterwards Gillespie said, “I am so relieved with this medal because I knew I could do it and I have the legs and every time I’m racing, I’m getting closer and closer.

“This medal means a lot to me and I’m so proud to do it for Ireland, we have a small but mighty team and all of us and the staff have put so much effort this year prepared for the Olympics and for our performance and development. I felt my coaches, and everyone here believed in me and that really drive me on the extra bit. I’m very grateful.”

This concludes a brilliant World Championship where Irish riders have once recorded multiple top ten finishes among the world’s best, showing continued improvement and consistency.