Katie-George Dunlevy was unable to hold off the challenge of Great Britain's Sophie Unwin as she finished second in the Paralympic women’s B road race, securing a third medal of the Paris Games in the process.
It was a reverse result of the Tokyo event - where Ireland led home Team GB - with Dunlevy and pilot Linda Kelly, who crossed the line in first for six of the seven laps, pushing hard throughout with Unwin and Jenny Holl keeping them company along the way.
The Irish tandem attacked a number of times in an attempt to break away but failed to drop their direct opponents who seemed somewhat perplexed with the aggressive strategy.
The gold medal looked like it was only ever going to one of two pairs apart from 90 minutes into the race when British pair Lora Fachie and pilot Corrine Hall came through and attacked in an attempt to give the two Team GB tandems a tactical edge.
Ireland’s response was strong with Fachie and Hall dropping off again just a few kilometres later.
Dunlevy and pilot Kelly were still in the lead as the line came into focus, but it was Unwin and Holl who had the energy reserved for the sprint in a time of 2:37.26, with Dunlevy and Kelly three seconds behind.
Fachie and Hall took bronze, 1 minute 35 seconds behind their compatriots.
It's a third medal of the Games for Dunlevy who took gold in the time trial with Kelly on Wednesday and silver in the B 3000m individual pursuit with Eve McCrystal last Sunday.
Post-race reaction from Dunlevy and Kelly
"I wanted to win the gold and retain my title so I'm a bit disappointed but a silver medal is amazing," Dunlevy told RTÉ Sport.
"It was a tough race. We were up the road with one of the GB bikes and they refused to do the work, so we were just at the front, attacking on each hill and trying to get away.
"We couldn't get away from them, the other GB bike kind of got back to us, they lost the gap, then they came back a few times.
"We gave our all but they are better sprinters than us so they just beat us in the sprint at the finish. We had nothing left at that stage after giving so much in the hills.
"But it's a silver medal so delighted."
Another podium visit for Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly after their silver in the women's B road race #RTEparalympics #paris2024
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On her three-medal haul this week, which takes her to eight overall, Ireland's most successful female Paralympian said: "To come away with three medals [overall] is amazing. With all the setbacks it means a lot.
"Looking forward to seeing the family tonight and celebrating with them.
"I wouldn't be here without my parents' support over the years. I'm so proud we're able to get a medal in front of them."
Dunlevy, who turns 43 in November, is already looking ahead to the World Championships in Zurich at the end of the month but revealed she was undecided about coming back for a fourth Paralympic appearance in LA in 2028.
"I'm not 100% sure yet. I need to have a big break, and then decide."
After finishing fourth in the women's B road race Josephine Healion is determined to get to the "top of her game" while Eve McCrystal confirmed her retirement, adding she does not want to spend her "50th birthday in LA" #RTEparalympics #paris2024
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Offaly native Josephine Healion and pilot Eve McCrystal had been in the bronze position after laps two and three, but finished fourth with a time of 2:42.05.
They had paired with France’s Sophie-Anne Centis and pilot Elise Delzenne for the majority of the race, and managed to overtake them on the final lap for an impressive finish.
"It was very hard, very tough," said Healion. "But fourth, we'll take it, very happy with that.
"I did the best I could. There are some really strong bikes and some really strong women who have been at this a longer time than me but I gave it my all.
"I'm not as seasoned as some of the rest of them, I want to get to that point.
"Huge thanks to this woman [McCrystal] for coming on board and motoring me around. And guiding me around this journey."
Pilot McCrystal confirmed that this will be her final Paraympic appearance, having won six medals with Dunlevy across three appearances in Rio, Tokyo and Paris.
"I'm 46 years of age, I don't want to be spending my 50th birthday in LA!"
"It has just been amazing. I have had so many highs. Six Paralympic medals... I never thought 10 years ago that I would be here."
In the men's B road race, Damien Vereker and Mitchell McLaughlin finished eighth in a race won by holders Tristan Bangma and Patrick Boss of the Netherlands (2:55.10).
The Irish pair were in sixth position after 4/9 laps of the 127.8km race, but had fallen to eighth by the finish with a time of 3:01.18.
Bangma and Bos finished two seconds ahead of compatriots Vincent ter Schure and Timo Fransen (2:55:12), with France's Alexandre Lloveras and Yoann Paillot taking bronze in 2:55:18.
"It was hard for me just from the start," said Vereker. "Just fast from the start and it was very tough. You're just all just trying to stay on the wheel, but I enjoyed it.
"It’s good with this man [pilot McLaughlin]. He’s the man to keep me going. And the crowds again, were just amazing and seeing the family at the end, just hearing the Irish voices means a lot."
Pilot McLaughlin reflected on the tough race, saying: "It was hell from the start, it was pretty full on.
"The French were the first bike to attack during the descent. I had a plan to attack pretty early on, but I just didn't get into the position. The climb there, just 3k from the finish, was the hardest on the course by far. It was a pretty hard race, and I am cooked but the appetite is there - I’ll be back in LA."
Paris is Vereker’s second Games. When asked about his plans for the future the 44-year-old said: "I have no plans to stop at the moment - I’ll be back.
"Cyclists, we're a weird bunch - the worse it is, the more we want."
