Ireland Finish Fourth in Women’s Team Pursuit at UEC Track European Championships

Photo: SW Pix

Ireland Finish Fourth in Women’s Team Pursuit at UEC Track European Championships

Ireland got the 2024 season off to a strong start with a fourth-place finish in the Women's Team Pursuit Final at the 2024 UEC Track European Championships in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.

After a difficult start in qualifying yesterday, Ireland finished fifth out of nine teams and came up against Switzerland in the first-round yesterday evening. Disqualification for Switzerland saw Ireland progress to the final where they faced Germany in a battle for Bronze. 

The team for the opening qualifying round consisted of Erin Creighton, Lara Gillespie, Alice Sharpe, and Kelly Murphy. A planned change for round-one, saw Mia Griffin ride in instead of Erin Creighton. This team remained unchanged for the final. 

Both Ireland and Germany got off to a strong start in the battle for the European Bronze medal, however, it was Ireland who posted the fastest first lap. 

The reigning European and Olympic champions Germany set a strong pace as the gap grew between the two teams. Ireland finished in a time of 4:21:539.

Great Britain and Italy went head-to-head in the battle for Gold, it was Italy who came out on top and were crowned European Champions. 

Today marks the second day of the championships which will run until Sunday 14th of January. Later this evening Griffin will compete in the Women’s Scratch Race. Tomorrow sees Gillespie compete in the Women’s Omnium. 

Griffen and Gillespie will compete again on Saturday, riding in the Women’s Elimination Race and the Women’s Points Race respectively. 

Following on from their encouraging performance at the 2023 World Championships Gillespie and Sharpe will combine for the Madison race on Sunday. Murphy and Creighton will both represent Ireland in the Women’s Individual Pursuit which also takes place on the final day of action. 

The bid for Women’s Team Pursuit Olympic qualification continues, the team will head to Adelaide in early February and then on to Hong Kong in March for key Nations Cup events. 

Live results from the European Championships can be found here.