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Cycling Ireland has named a squad of six riders to represent Ireland at the upcoming UEC Track European Championships in Zolder, Belgium, from February 12th to 16th.

Lara Gillespie will make the trip and hope to continue the form she found in 2024, which included a strong Olympic performance and a Bronze medal at the UCI Track World Championships. Gillespie has already found success on the European front, taking two gold medals in the Points Race and Omnium at the U23 European Championships in 2023, along with a Silver in the Individual pursuit in 2021. She rounded out 2024 with a third place overall in the UCI Track Champions League.

Gillespie will be joined by Paris 2024 Olympic team-mates Mia Griffin and Erin Creighton.

Griffin followed an impressive performance in Paris as part of the Team Pursuit squad by teaming up with Gillespie to earn seventh place in the Madison at the World Championships in October. She also found success on the road in 2024 as the Kilkenny native won Rás na mBan on home soil.

Creighton was also part of the Team Pursuit squad sent to Paris for the Olympic Games as a reserve rider. Creighton had her 2024 season interrupted by illness but rounded it out with a solid series long showing at the UCI Track Champions League.

Aoife O’Brien is no stranger to the Irish team but will be making her debut in a senior track championship. Aoife has raced for Ireland at the Junior European Championships in 2022, the U23 European championships in 2023 and most recently at the Grenchen Track Challenge at the end of 2024. A 7th place in the elimination race in Grenchen was a clear sign of her progress and she’ll be looking to make a strong start as the team begins the LA Olympic cycle.

Esther Wong makes her second appearance for Ireland in the Velodrome. The recently crowned Cyclo-cross National Champion made her debut on the track at the Grenchen Track Challenge in December and will look to hone her track skills even further in Belgium. She will join the team straight from the Cyclocross World Championships as she continues her busy start to 2025.

Emma Jeffers rounds out the squad for the European Championships. This will be Jeffers first time representing Ireland, as the former BMX rider turned road racer looks to bring her talents to the track.

More details on the event, including full schedule are available HERE.