Lara Gillespie was already a European champion before tonight but has now added an incredible world title win to her palmares (Photo: Alex Whitehead-SWpix)
Lara Gillespie claimed a European track title for Ireland at the start of this year and now the road and track star has added a world title to her palmares. She is the first Irish rider to win a senior track cycling world title since Martyn Irvine in 2013.
Gillespie’s incredible victory in the elimination race world title battle in Santiago, Chile, is only the third Irish senior track world title, after Irvine 12 years ago and Harry Reynolds back 1896 in Copenhagen.
And the win now means Gillespie is the European and world champion in the elimination race, extending an incredibl season for her and Team Ireland. The national team had already collected four medals at the road Worlds and Europeans in the space of a week in late September-early October.
In the world title race in Chile this evening, two crashes marred the opening stages and when the race proper got underway the field was already trimmed from the original 24 to 18 riders.
Ireland’s Gillespie kept a low profile through the contest, until the fireworks were required, and after the riders fell by the wayside one-by-one on each sprint lap, it eventually boiled down to the final three for the medals.
Gillespie was there of course, alongside Katie Archibald (Great Britain) and Helene Hesters of Belgium. And it was the Belgian rider who was last across the line on the penultimate sprint, ensuring an Ireland Vs Great Britain two-up battle for gold and silver.
On the final lap, as the speed wound up and the finish line approached, it briefly looked like Archibald – a two-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion – had the upper hand over her Irish rival.
However, rounding the final bend there was very little to separate them. And though Gillespie was marginally behind, she came through with a huge turn of speed to pass her British rival and claim the gold medal.
In the end, Archibald simply could not live with Gillespie, who won it by over a length. She celebrated wildly, and in near disbelief, at winning her first ever rainbow jersey.
More to come.
¡ORO PARA IRLANDA EN LA FINAL FEMENINA! 🏅
🚴🏻♂️ Lara Gillespie venció en la final a Katie Archibald para quedarse con el primer lugar en Eliminación-Damas.
🎙️ @CastellanosCami #CiclismoEnDSPORTS #MundialDePistaEnDSPORTS pic.twitter.com/yKx7hd2sEB
— DSPORTS (@DSports) October 23, 2025
UCI World Champs | Elimination Race
