Lara Gillespie’s historical elimination race win at the Track Cycling World Championships was the cherry on top of a successful weekend for the Cycling Ireland contingent in Santiago, Chile. Limerick local Fiona Mangan was also active at the championships, in her debut for Ireland on the international stage in track cycling.
Gillespie’s victory in the elimination race marks Ireland’s first ever women’s gold medal in a Track Cycling World Championships. She won in a thrilling final lap sprint against Great Britain’s Kate Archibald.
Lara Gillespie: World Champion
The Irish rider pips Britain’s Katie Archibald to gold in the elimination race… and she is absolutely delighted pic.twitter.com/zwhtVQNhR2
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) October 23, 2025
Video: TNT Sports
Speaking of her win, she said “It’s really, really special. I’m so proud to do it for my country, and I’m so proud of our small little team we have here. We’re small but mighty, and I’m really proud to be here.”
The Irish riders continued to show form across the other events this past weekend, with Gillespie landing a sixth place in the omnium race (which is decided by the cumulative points awarded over four races: scratch, tempo, elimination and points), while Fiona Mangan placed 12th in the individual pursuit race. Emma Jeffers secured a 12th place in the scratch race, and Aoife O’Brien finish 24th in the 1km time trial.
Mangan was also part of the team pursuit quartet, with sisters Caoimhe and Aoife O’Brien, and Erin Creighton, which placed 13th in this 4km time trial.
The team sent to this World Championships was a mixture of experienced and developing riders. Gillespie added the World Champion elimination title to a European title in the same event, while Limerick’s Fiona Mangan was selected for this race off the back of a successful road season including a selection for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.