Photos courtesy of CI
Not a stranger of European medals, Lara was fastest in the qualifying rounds of the individual pursuit on the boards and a guaranteed medal was for grabs…her opponent the Italian locomotive Zanardi, Lara led the race for 2 of the 3 laps, but Zanardi got too much steam left and pulled the race towards her…she took nearly another 3 seconds out of Lara at the finish but hey…SILVER !! For a small country that has not even an indoor velodrome…an edge that all other competing countries have, the limited resources, etc…They did well, and with so many more events to come this week in the Netherlands, you never know the young team presents us with another medal. Lara has now 6 European Medals I think if you include her junior medals on that level!! So pleased for Lara who is an ex Belgian Project bursary holder, and will be in my selection pool for 2022.
Other results: Gaby Homer – U23 individual pursuit was 7th in qualifying,in the elimination race 15th. Christopher Donald (Spellman-Dublin Port) 16th in the U23 men’s elimination. Cian Keogh was 18th in qualifying. Caoimhe May 16th in the Junior scratch. Odhran Doogan was 15th in the men’s junior scratch. The Junior men pursuit team with Patrick O’Loughlin, Odhran Doogan, Stefan Caulfield Drier, and Niall McLoughlin 12th in qualifying. The women’s junior team pursuit of Mia Simmons, Caoimhe May, Erin Grace Creighton, and Katie Neill 8th in qualifying and reaching the first round..they will have Poland to deal with!!
