Why this Giro offers best Grand Tour chance by far for Lara Gillespie

Lara Gillespie, left, with two of her team mates at the presentation for Giro d'Italia 2026 which gets underway tomorrow, Saturday (Photo: Davide Spada-Mirror Media )

Why this Giro offers best Grand Tour chance by far for Lara Gillespie. A sign of Lara Gillespie's stature in the sport, just 18 months after opting for full focus on the road, is her inclusion in the Giro d’Italia’s promotional material for the 2026 edition. Organisers RCS are using the images of two small groups of riders to hammer home the fact the start will be in the field this year. They’ve chosen a handful of the best climbers and sprinters they believe the cycling public will most want to see fighting it out. And Gillespie is in the middle of the top sprinters group. That obviously doesn't mean it will be any easier for the UAE Team ADQ rider to win a stage. But there are several reasons why this is the best chance ever for an Irish woman to take a victory on a Grand Tour. First off, Gillespie has already won UCI-ranked races; eigh...