Paris 2024: Irish duo finish 11th in women's Madison

Ireland's Lara Gillespie and Alice Sharpe have finished 11th in the track cycling women’s Madison final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The Irish duo took three points in the tenth sprint of the race, meaning the pair finished ahead of the Japanese, German, Swiss and Canadian teams.

Meanwhile, Italy won gold, with Chiara Consonni and Vittoria Guazzini producing a stunning ride at the National Velodrome.

Britain's Elinor Barker and Neah Evans surged to the silver medal by winning the last sprint, while the Netherlands duo of Maike van der Duin and Lisa van Belle took the bronze.

Italy, who surprisingly failed to win a medal in the women's team pursuit, in which they came fourth, ended with 37 points to Britain's 31 with the Netherlands on 28.

The 120-lap relay-like event in which team-mates take it in turns to race while the others rest, with changeovers made using hand-slings, always produces drama and this was no exception.

Huge roars erupted around the velodrome as France took one of the first sprints to earn points, but the Dutch acceleration caught everyone out as they lapped the field, a move worth 20 points in itself.

Italy then made a lap late on with an audacious attack which effectively earned them gold and left the others scrapping out for the other medals.

Barker powered around the last two laps to earn Britain the ten points for the final sprint to boost them to silver.