Fifth for Lara Gillespie in UCI Track World Championships Elimination race

Lara Gillespie started a busy week at the 2024 Tissot UCI Track World Championships with a strong fifth-placed finish in the Elimination.

The Wicklow woman was the first Irish cyclist in action and, in a packed field of 22, she came home just behind some world-class competition.

New Zealand's Ally Wollaston was the winner ahead of two-time World Champion Lotte Kopecky, with American Jennifer Valente taking the bronze and Italy's Letizia Paternoster just ahead of of Gillespie.

"It was my first elimination race in a major championships or standalone event, so happy with that result but mixed emotions because it’s really close to the podium," Olympian Gillespie said afterwards.

"I think with just a few slight changes I was really close to that. I felt good in the race, although I did feel the gear was a bit big, so I was not so much in the same flow that I’ve been feeling in the past few weeks. Overall, I’m feeling strong for the coming races."

Gillespie is back in action tomorrow in the Omnium, in which she finished fourth in at the European Track Championships in January, and her mind quickly turned to that event after this evening's effort.

"I’m already switched in straight away for tomorrow," she continued.

"I’m really excited to give everything I have. I think my shape over the past couple of weeks and my races have been good so hopefully that will keep going."

Team Ireland schedule (all times IST):

Friday 18 October
Lara Gillespie - Omnium Scratch - 14:38
Lara Gillespie - Omnium Tempo - 16:33
Lara Gillespie - Omnium Elimination - 19:34
Lara Gillespie - Omnium Points - 21:03

Saturday 19 October
Lucy Bénézet Minns- Individual Pursuit - 14:48
Lara Gillespie and Mia Griffin - Madison - 19:10

Sunday 20 October
Lara Gillespie - Points