Lara Gillespie, right, (Team UAE Team ADQ) crosses the line just after Dutch rider Femke Gerritse, left, of Team SD Worx in the Fenix Omloop van het Hageland in Belgium. Photo: Getty

Ireland’s Lara Gillespie continued her fine start to the year with an impressive second-place finish in the Belgian one-day classic Fenix Omloop van het Hageland today.

The Wicklow racer, who last month took her first World Tour podium and won a European gold on the track, came close to her first road win of 2025 after narrowly finishing second to Femke Gerritse (Team SD Worx–Protime) in the sprint from a reduced group after 135.6km of racing.

Gillespie came from behind in the final gallop for the line and stormed past all her rivals in the seven-rider group apart from the Dutch 23-year-old.

“I felt really good today and the team did a really good job, everybody really believed in me and supported me,” said the 23-year-old UAE Team rider. “I’m disappointed with the finish because I felt really strong but I just made a mistake. But I’m really happy to do these kinds of races and just get better and better.”

Meanwhile, Jasper Philipsen won the bunch sprint for the line to claim the main honours in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne after a brilliantly attacking 196km race through the cobbles and hills of Flanders. Sam Bennett finished 17th.