The 2026 UCI Track World Championships in Shanghai, China, came to a perfect close for UAE Team L’IMAD, with Ireland’s Lara Gillespie winning gold in the Points Race on the final day of competition.
Five UAE Team L’IMAD riders represented their respective national teams at the World Championships, bringing home a total of four medals: one gold and one silver for Gillespie in the Points Race and Scratch Race, respectively, and two bronze medals for American Megan Jastrab in the Elimination Race and Dutch rider Sofie van Rooijen in the 1km Time Trial.
LARA GILLESPIE WINS POINTS RACE GOLD
On the final day of the World Championships, Lara Gillespie claimed the world title in the Points Race.
One year after winning the world title in the Elimination Race, and just days after securing silver in the Scratch Race in Shanghai, the UAE Team L’IMAD Irish sprinter returned to the top step of the world podium, adding another prestigious achievement to her palmarès.
With a strong and tactically astute performance, Gillespie mastered a closely contested race that remained uncertain until the very end, securing the rainbow jersey and writing another important chapter in Irish cycling history.
Gillespie finished with 42 points, ahead of Denmark’s Amalie Dideriksen, who took silver with 37 points, and Belgium’s Shari Bossuyt, who claimed bronze with 35. Mexico’s Yareli Acevedo finished fourth with 13 points, while another UAE Team L’IMAD rider, Sofie van Rooijen, placed fifth with 10 points.
Lara Gillespie said: “I’m really happy to be wearing the track world champion’s jersey again. It’s an incredible feeling, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has worked with me throughout the season to achieve this great result at the end of a truly extraordinary year. From the national team staff to my UAE Team L’IMAD team, as well as my family, friends and boyfriend, everyone has helped me along the way. I’m proud and happy to finish on the top step of the podium. It’s always an honour to fly my country’s flag high and show that I can compete at the highest level.”
LARA GILLESPIE WINS SILVER IN THE SCRATCH RACE
As previously reported on Wednesday, Lara Gillespie also claimed silver in the Scratch Race, narrowly missing out on the world title after a thrilling sprint finish. The Irish rider was beaten by the Netherlands’ Lorena Wiebes in a photo finish after a race that remained fiercely contested right to the final metres.
In the same event, young British rider Abigail Miller finished 17th.
MEGAN JASTRAB CLAIMS BRONZE IN THE ELIMINATION RACE
On Thursday, another medal for UAE Team L’IMAD came courtesy of American Megan Jastrab, who finished third in the women’s Elimination Race, taking bronze behind the newly crowned world champion, Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky, and Japan’s Yumi Kajihara.
For Jastrab, the result marked her first elite world championship medal, making it an especially meaningful achievement after a season affected by several injuries.
Following the medal ceremony, the American said: “I’m really proud to bring home a bronze medal in the Elimination Race. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has continued to believe in me and helped me get back to racing at this level, despite the many injuries I’ve suffered this year. It’s my first elite world medal, so I’m going to enjoy it for a while.”
In the same event, Abigail Miller also delivered a solid performance, finishing ninth.
SOFIE VAN ROOIJEN CLAIMS BRONZE IN THE 1KM TIME TRIAL
Another medal for UAE Team L’IMAD came yesterday, when Dutch rider Sofie van Rooijen secured bronze in the women’s 1km Time Trial. It was an outstanding result for the Dutch sprinter, who earned a place on the podium in a discipline featuring some of the world’s leading track sprint specialists.
Germany’s Pauline Sophie Grabosch won gold in 1:04.572, at an average speed of 55.752 km/h. Silver went to fellow Dutch rider Hetty van de Wouw, who finished just 0.651 seconds behind the winner.
Van Rooijen stopped the clock at 1:05.398, averaging 55.048 km/h. Just 0.826 seconds off the winning time, she secured a well-deserved bronze medal.
Sofie van Rooijen said: “I started out hoping to finish in the top eight and qualify for the final. I never imagined I could win a medal here, competing against some real sprint specialists. I’m absolutely delighted and surprised to have won this medal!”
OTHER RESULTS
Alongside the four medals, UAE Team L’IMAD riders achieved several other notable results throughout the World Championships.
Lara Gillespie finished fifth in the Omnium after a particularly eventful competition. Megan Jastrab was involved in a major crash during the opening event of the Omnium, suffering several bruises and abrasions that affected the remainder of her World Championships, including her participation in the Madison the following day.
Sofie van Rooijen narrowly missed the podium in the Team Pursuit, finishing fourth, while Alena Ivanchenko placed 14th in her event.
SOURCE: Press Office Giorgio Torre Bike Voices x UAE Team L’IMAD
PHOTO: Getty
