By:
Conor Martin
Lara Gillespie made Irish sporting history on Tuesday when she became the first Irish woman to take a podium place at the Tour de France Femmes after finishing third in stage four.
The Wicklow-born Gillespie turned on the style and pulled off an excellent sprint finish to secure third spot and a place on the podium.
Lara Gillespie makes Tour de France Femmes history
Her third-place finish in stage four of the female version of the Tour de France, riding for UAE Team ADQ, moved her up to 106th in general classification.
Gillespie said after her stage four performance, “it was a tough day again, with lots of wind, but I’m so proud of my team.
“Getting on the podium at the Tour de France Femmes means so much to me. Thank you to all the girls, to those guiding us from the car, and to the entire staff – it was an incredible day. I wasn’t feeling my best this morning, but everyone believed in me and supported me, and this amazing result is also thanks to them. Thank you, girls.”
The 24-year-old’s performance was all the more impressive given that she was only called up to the Tour team a few days before the start, after a crash in June saw her miss the National Road Championships and other races.
A crash also hampered Gillespie’s chances at the Tour de France Femmes yesterday. Although she didn’t fall, the former European track champion was held up by a crash that stopped her from putting real pressure on those battling it out to win the stage.
This year sees the first-ever Irish involvement in the Tour de France Femmes. Current national champion Kilkenny’s Mia Griffin finished 25th in Tuesday’s race and is 109th in general classification, while the previous national title holder, Limerick’s Fiona Mangan, is 97th in the general classification after finishing 28th.
It’s a good period for Irish cycling. Ben Healy became the fourth Irishman to win a stage at the Tour de France and also won the yellow jersey for his efforts in the men’s competition.
Double Dutch in stage four of Tour de France Femmes
Elsewhere, Dutch cyclist Lorena Wiebes won the fourth stage, outpacing her fellow countrywoman and yellow jersey holder Marianne Vos at the end of a nail-biting sprint.
The Dutchwoman from Team SD Worx went for the win 250 metres from the line, and nobody could catch her. Sealing another emphatic stage victory ahead of compatriot Marianne Vos and Gillespie.
It’s very early days in the competition; the odds for current leader Vos to win the Tour de France Femmes tell you just that. She’s a massive 500/1 with Irish bookmakers to be the competition’s overall winner.
The largely flat 130.7km stage from Saumur to Poitiers saw the peloton remain tightly packed until the closing stretch before a showdown amongst the sprinters.
Wiebes timed her effort perfectly and burst away; her rivals had no answer to her excellent performance and were left trailing in her wake.
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