Track World Championships Round-Up
The UCI Track World Championships in Santiago, Chile, wrapped up on Sunday after an incredible five days of racing, with six cyclists representing Ireland across eight races.
Wicklow’s Lara Gillespie conquered the Elimination race, securing the gold medal with a spectacular sprint finish to overtake Great Britain’s Kate Archibald. Gillespie stormed to the top of the podium, becoming the first Irish woman to win a track world title, adding to her European medal in the same event earlier in the year.
Gillespie added to her World Championship catalogue with a sixth-place finish in the Omnium the very next day. Concluding the Championships, she finished 12th in the Points Race.
The Championships saw Fiona Mangan, Caoimhe O’Brien, Aoife O’Brien, and Erin Creighton ride together for the first time in the Team Pursuit. The quartet put in a huge effort to take 13th on day one of the event, narrowly missing out on qualification. Olympian Erin Creighton was paired with Emma Jeffers in the Madison on the penultimate day of racing, with the duo coming home in 13th.
Emma Jeffers raced individually in the Scratch race, coming away with 12th after a tough race in a strong field. Aoife O’Brien fought hard to take home 24th in the 1km TT, a solid result at the tail end of a tough season hampered by injury. Fiona Mangan battled for 12th in the Individual Pursuit, in what was her first time on the track in international competition.
Speaking after the Championships National Track Cycling Coach Dan Henchy said:
“Lara’s maiden rainbow jersey was the obvious highlight of the 2025 Track Worlds. There’s a huge list of people to thank for their support, not just this season but throughout Lara’s career and I know Lara’s looking forward to thanking many of them in person.
"At times in the last few years, it’s seemed like Lara’s been at the centre of a whirlwind, with track ambitions, road team commitments and other work and personal commitments pulling her in every different direction. Throughout this time, she’s been laser-focused on her goals and has never shied away from the work needed. While applauding her on the podium last week, I couldn’t help but think back on her insistence of an extra training camp earlier this year. That’s just one example of many such decisions she’s made that have contributed to her incredible season, and to end the year with her first rainbow jersey is just reward.
"For myself and the rest of the team it was a privilege to share in celebrating Lara’s success in Santiago, but there’s no escaping the fact that we have a big task ahead of us if we’re to build a team capable of competing at the 2028 LA Olympics. Qualification begins next year and we’re going to need an equally committed approach if we’re to build on the success of the past few years. Many riders have the ambition to emulate Lara’s success but far fewer are prepared to do the necessary work, but I was encouraged by the positive intent shown by the riders who are at the earlier stages of their track racing careers and very much looking forward to getting back to work after a short post-season break.”