Lara Gillespie has got her first season with the top-ranked UAE Team ADQ squad off to a dazzling start, winning the black jersey at the team's home race, the UAE Tour Women.
The jersey is awarded to the best rider in the intermediate sprints and Enniskerry rider Gillespie finished well clear of her nearest rival.
She had 19 points, six more than her teammate Elisa Longo Borghini, who won the race overall.
Gillespie showed strong form in placing ninth on the opening stage on Thursday.
She then went on the attack five kilometres after the start of stage two. She and Longo Borghini were two of five riders in the move, and stayed clear until the finish.
Gillespie worked for her teammate in the finale but still took third on the stage, her best-ever result in a WorldTour race.
The stage set the record for the fastest-ever women’s WorldTour race. The leading riders averaged a staggering 48.407km per hour racing in echelon formation, namely small groups formed by strong sidewinds. Gillespie jumped up to second in the overall standings.
Although Saturday’s final climb didn’t suit her characteristics, causing her to slip down the general classification, she won a sprint early on to take the lead of the intermediate sprints competition.
Gillespie was then back in her element on Sunday’s concluder, further adding to her advantage in that contest.
She looked well placed to challenge in the final sprint but got hemmed in just as it unfolded and had to be satisfied with ninth. She will be frustrated to be blocked at the wrong time, but still took encouragement.
"I’m proud of finishing the UAE Tour Women with a top 10 in the final stage," the 23-year-old said.
"The priority was to retain Elisa’s (race leader’s) red jersey. We worked on securing Silvia (Persico’s) second place overall too."
Winning the intermediate sprint jersey was important for her. So too the confidence boost she takes away from the race.
"I think I’m still kind of a mixture between sprinting and riding in echelons," she said. "It was actually only my second time doing echelons. I really enjoyed that day.
"I’m 100% eager to race the UAE Tour Women again, it’s a great feeling to have the support of the home team and all the people here. We’ve had an amazing week."
Gillespie’s talent has long been obvious, particularly in track racing. She won gold and silver medals at European Championship level as a junior and then an under 23.
Last year she made a big breakthrough at elite level, taking a bronze medal at the track world championships. She also won four road races, including the 1.1-ranked Antwerp Classic.
Fellow team pursuit rider Mia Griffin (Roland) was also competing in the UAE Tour Women and was a fine fourth on stage one.
The two riders’ performances are amongst the best-ever by Irish women in international road competition.
