The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles are the “big priority” for Lara Gillespie as the Irish cyclist looks to build on the silver medal she earned at the UCI Track World Championships.
Wicklow woman Gillespie narrowly missed out on gold on Wednesday in the scratch race at the championships in Shanghai, following a photo finish.
But the 25-year-old, who won a gold medal in the elimination race in Chile last year, feels she is putting the building blocks in place across a range of events with LA in mind.
“It’s a really big priority for me,” Gillespie told RTÉ Radio 1’s Inside Sport on Thursday.
“I’m still developing in the omnium event and I skipped the elimination race this evening to defend the title of the elimination race.
“So I’m really going all in and didn’t want to take any risks and it’s most important that I qualify the spot for the Olympics and then try to fight for a medal there.”
While victory may have just about eluded her, the Paris 2024 Olympian feels Wednesday’s podium finish represents a personal breakthrough of sorts in the scratch race event.
“The silver medal yesterday was really nice to get the week underway and get the Olympic qualifying about to start, so it definitely has sunk in now,” she said.
“I think I can be really happy with yesterday anyway regardless of winning previously because actually, I’ve never won an individual scratch race other than a national championship.
“So getting on the podium, that was my first time ever even doing a scratch race at a world championships, so even to go in there and really focus on it and really deliver makes me proud.
“And I think it shows what we worked at with that Irish team and then also with my coach, and my gym coaches, we really focused on my speed which is what the scratch race is really about.”
Lara Gillespie (r) during the women’s omnium points race at Paris 2024
Dutch rivals Lorena Wiebes claimed the scratch race title for the third year in a row with that photo finish victory but Gillespie feels she is starting to close the gap.
“Currently, she’s definitely the best in the world at sprinting and she has been for the last few years,” Gillespie said.
“No one has come close to her. Normally when she’s sprinting, she gets a few bike lengths in between second place.
“But this year I’ve been able to challenge that and put a bit more pressure on it. So I’m just hoping that my patience pays off and I’m definitely getting more confident and definitely stronger this year coming into the final months of my season.
“I can feel my speed is getting better so hopefully my time will come.”
She added: “I think I show a level of consistency and that was my hope after the last Olympics that even on a bad day, I want to be able to podium going into the next Olympic cycle.
“So I’m proving that correct because I wouldn’t say I felt like a million dollars yesterday. Just getting those podiums and also in different events, because the omnium which is the Olympic event consists of four events, and now I’ve won a medal in the points race in ’24, in the elimination race last year and then this year in the scratch.
“So I’m building up my variety and hopefully that will definitely pay off and I can go into the omnium tomorrow with full confidence.”
Next up for Gillespie is the women’s omnium on Friday which will get underway from 5.35am Irish time.
“I just want to replicate my drive going into that and then take each race as it comes and if mistakes happen or disappointment happens, I’ll just move forward to the next one,” said Gillespie, who cited the elimination and points races as her favourites.
“They’ll be really important for Olympic qualifying, for chasing another medal, but I’m really excited.”