Lara Gillespie makes history by becoming first Irish woman to take podium finish in stage of Tour de France Femmes
The 24-year-old Enniskerry woman's result was all the more impressive given that she was only called up the Tour team a few days before the start, after a crash at the Elmos Dwars doors het Hageland race in mid-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 in the last 4km of stage three meaning she didn't get to go toe-to-toe with the fastest women in the world at the finish.
Today, though, Gillespie held her own in the gallop to the line despite being out in the wind for longer than the first two on the stage, both of whom are renowned sprinters.
Dutchwoman Wiebes' victory was a record fifth Tour de France Femmes stage win and she continues to lead the green-jersey classification, while second-placed Vos maintained her overall lead.
"It's nice to keep the yellow on such a day,' said Vos afterwards before praising stage winner Wiebes.
'You know it's going to be tough. Not only in the final, but actually from the start it was fast and constantly windy, with a high pace in the bunch and then you have to stay in the front and stay in a good position.
"That's pretty tough and thanks to the team it worked really well, so I'm very happy. She's [Lorena Wiebes] just the best sprinter in the world, she's a phenomenon in the sprint and every time she shows it again. She's very, very hard to beat. She's a tough competitor, but it's good to have her."
As well as Gillespie, current national champion Mia Griffin and last year's title holder Fiona Mangan are also making their debuts at the race with all three looking to first complete the nine-day race, and hopefully build on the experience going forward.
Tomorrow's fifth stage takes the riders from Chasseneuil-du-Poitou to Gueret, a distance of 165.8 km (103 miles).
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Irish Independent
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- Irish Independent
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