Just like her teammate Dominika Włodarczyk, Lara Gillespie completed a magnificent double at the Irish National Championships. Two days after winning the individual time trial title, the UAE Team ADQ sprinter added the Elite Women’s road race crown to cap off a perfect National Championships.
The 111.6-kilometre race, starting and finishing in Cong, was made even more demanding by rain that arrived during the closing stages. The decisive move of the day saw a group of nine riders break clear, with Gillespie among them. Working together effectively, the leaders built a decisive advantage, leaving the national title to be contested within the breakaway.
As expected, the race came down to a sprint, where Gillespie showcased her finishing speed to take victory ahead of Emma Jeffers and Mia Griffin, securing her second national title of the weekend.
Lara Gillespie said: “The National Championships are always a very special race. It means so much to come back home every year and compete for this jersey. I knew I was in good shape and that I could rely on my sprint, so I stayed confident throughout the race. There were several attacks before we finally got away in a small group. Everyone worked really well together, including the younger riders, who all played their part. It was a great race, and I think we all really enjoyed it today.”
(ph. Sean Rowe)
