Lara Gillespie came within touching distance of a medal in the Women’s Omnium at the 2024 UEC Track European Championships in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.
The Co Wicklow rider started the race in seventh place and made her move early on, gaining valuable points and moving up the leaderboard. A crash shortly after the halfway stage disrupted the race rhythm, with track repairs needed before racing could resume.
Norway’s Anita Yvonne Stenberg held onto the lead, finishing on 142 points. Britain’s Neah Evans claimed the silver medal on 136 points. A final push in the last lap saw Valentine Fortin win bronze for France on 131 points, with Gillespie coming home on 130 points.
Gillespie is one of five Irish riders at the championships. Yesterday the team of Gillespie, Alice Sharpe, Mia Griffin, and Kelly Murphy finished in fourth in the Women’s Team Pursuit.
Tomorrow Griffin will compete in the Women’s Elimination Race and Gillespie in the Women’s Points Race. On Sunday, Gillespie and Sharpe will pair up for the Women’s Madison and Murphy and Erin Creighton will ride in the Women’s Individual Pursuit.
