Latest news with #LARAGILLESPIE
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Irish Olympian reveals ‘I nearly lost my life' after horrifying crash near miss that left her ‘crying' for rest of race
LARA GILLESPIE revealed she "nearly lost my life" after a horrifying accident during a recent race. The Enniskerry cyclist was competing on the last day of La Vuelta Femenina when the incident took place. Advertisement She ultimately helped the UAE Team ADQ finish 15th overall but that was not before a harrowing near miss on the rain-soaked Spanish mountain road . Speaking to nice , to be honest. "It did kind of put racing into perspective a little bit or just like these descents into perspective of how quickly things can go wrong. "In the end, nothing did happen and I'm very lucky and I didn't even get badly injured. Advertisement Read More on Olympics "I got a big fright and a big scare. !I was just going over the top of a climb and it had been lashing rain so the surface in Spain is like ice after the rain. "I think I took the turn too tightly. "My back wheel skidded and somehow went in the air and I was going head first over the crash mat barrier thing. Advertisement Most read in Other Sports "I hit the end of the crash mat but was then on this metal barrier." In an ironic twist of fate, the cyclist behind the 24-year-old also went down and inadvertently saved Gillespie's life. Daniel Wiffen reveals 'crazy' interaction with fans after Olympic gold medal She continued: "I was really lucky that the girl behind me also crashed and landed on my bike and her body weight kept me down. "I was looking down over a cliff and I thought, 'yeah, if i went, I was going.' Advertisement While she 'only' sustained bruised ribs and a bruised hip, the knowledge that it could have gone so much worse took an instant toll. "I got pulled back by the motorbikes - the safety people - back onto the road and I was immediately crying which would be very unusual for me. "I quickly got back on my bike and kept going but then I was dangerous going down because I was just crying and couldn't see. "There is still 60km of the race left but I had done my job already because I was helping the climber that day. Advertisement "I just thought I would get to the end but it took a bit of a psychological blow but luckily I have people to talk to about that. She added: "I definitely was going from crying panic, thinking, 'oh, my God, I nearly lost my life' and then thinking I am fine. "When I got back to the bus, I was bawling my eyes out and everyone was like you don't even look like you crashed because I just bruised my ribs and my hip from the barrier." 1 Lara Gillespie had a terrifying near miss Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile Advertisement
The 42
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland's Lara Gillespie finishes fourth in sprint finish at Vuelta Femenina
IRELAND'S LARA GILLESPIE marked her Grand Tour debut with a fourth-place finish on Friday's penultimate stage of La Vuelta Femenina. The 24-year-old from Wicklow saved one last burst to finish fourth on the 126.7km sixth stage from Becerril de Campos to Baltanás. Marianna Vos took her second stage win of the week, coming home ahead of Mischa Bredewold and Ally Wollaston. Demi Vollering retains the red jersey and a 45-second lead in the general classification as she bids for back-to-back Vuelta titles in Saturday's seventh and final stage. Advertisement Stage 6⃣ - Etapa 6⃣ 🐐 @marianne_vos - @visma_lab_women the GOAT takes her second win in Baltanás! Relive the last km with @skoda_es 💚 ¡Marianne Vos agranda su leyenda en Baltanás con otro triunfo de etapa en #LaVueltaFemenina! Revive el último km gracias a @Skoda_es — La Vuelta Femenina by (@LaVueltaFem) May 9, 2025
