This year’s UCI Track World Championships head to South America, as Santiago, Chile plays host. Ireland will be sending a team of six riders to the event, taking place from October 22nd – 26th.
Reigning European Champion in the Elimination event Lara Gillespie will ride for Ireland again, having become a stalwart over recent years. Gillespie found success at last year’s World Championships, taking bronze in the Points race in Denmark. The 2024 Olympian has also had a strong season on the road, making her Tour de France debut over the summer.
Erin Creighton, team-mate to Gillespie at last year’s Olympic Games, makes her return to the track. Creighton rode in green for Ireland at the Junior/U23 European Track Championships in Portugal in July, and more recently on the road for Ireland at Rás na mBan.
Sisters Aoife and Caoimhe O’Brien are both named in the team for this year’s Worlds. Both sisters represented Ireland at the Road World Championships in Switzerland in 2024, and although both have ridden for Ireland on the track previously, including the Hyeres GP earlier this year, this will be a first Track World Championships for the pair. Both had very strong starts to the road season, which has continued for Caoimhe, while a crash on the track at Sundrive and resulting injuries have hampered Aoife’s road season.
Fiona Mangan also makes her track debut in Chile. The Limerick woman previously represented Ireland on the road, including in last year’s Road World Championships in Switzerland. Mangan also made her Grand Tour debut this summer with an appearance at the Tour de France Femmes.
Emma Jeffers rounds out the Irish contingent for this year’s World Championships. The current U23 Road National Champion has already represented Ireland at the European Track Championships earlier this year, but this will also be a debut at World Championship level for the 20-year-old.
More information on the event is available HERE.
