Gillespie Claims Bronze in Hong Kong
Co. Wicklow rider Lara Gillespie won the bronze medal in the Women’s Omnium at the second round of the Tissot UCI Track Nations Cup, taking place in Hong Kong.
Japan claimed the gold and silver medals with Yumi Kajihara and Tsuyaka Uchino respectively. Kajihara finished on 124 points, Uchino on 113 and Gillespie 108, 16 points clear of her nearest rival.
Gillespie got off to a strong start in the opening Scratch Race. She maintained her third-place position after the tempo race. Another strong performance in the Elimination Race set Gillespie up well for the final Points Race.
The Nations Cup proved to be a very successful event for the Irish Track Team who continue their bid for Olympic qualification.
Action got underway on Friday morning with the Team Pursuit. The team of Gillespie, Mia Griffin, Alice Sharpe and Kelly Murphy had an outstanding performance to claim silver, behind New Zealand.
This result is likely to be influential in Ireland’s quest to gain qualification for the Team Pursuit in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Ireland came into this weekend in 6th in qualifying, with the top ten booking a ticket to Paris this summer.
Mia Griffin and Alice Sharpe teamed up for the Women’s Madison on Saturday, coming home with a fifth-place finish.