Ireland's Lara Gillespie has won a gold medal in the elimination race at the UEC European Track Championships in Belgium.
Two separate crashes involving five riders caused damage to the track in Heusden-Zolder, but Gillespie remained unfazed by the stoppages and raced prominently for each sprint elimination.
The 23-year-old was joined in the final three by Lisa van Belle of the Netherlands and home hope Helene Hesters.
Once it came down to a straight sprint between the Carlow competitor and Hesters, the former made a break and pulled away to take the win to build on a strong run of form since the start of the year, having also won the intermediate sprint title at the UAE Tour last week.
Gillespie is back on track on Friday in the omnium, followed by the points race and the madison with partner Mia Griffin this weekend.
