Kiesanowski second in Beijing shakedown

Christchurch cyclist Joanne Kiesanowski continued her outstanding form to finish second in her Olympic shakedown in the Tour de Bretagne Feminin in France today.

Kiesanowski surrendered the lead in the morning time trial on the final day and despite leading the peloton sprint in the final stage, had to settle for second place in the four day tour won by Great Britain’s Emma Pooley.

Pooley won yesterday’s 99km third stage to move into third place while Kiesanowski remained in front after finish seventh in the main bunch in the stage from Kernilus to Le Drennec.

The English woman took out the 10km time trial in 14:03 to grab the overall lead with the New Zealander clocking 14:40 to be fourth fastest and slip 13 seconds behind in general classification.

Kiesanowski was closely marked in the final 76km road stage around Launderneau won by Tatsiana Sharakova (BLR) with the kiwi winning the bunch sprint in fourth place overall.

However Pooley hung on in the peloton to claim the overall honours with Kiesanowski still impressive finishing just 11 seconds back in second place on general classification, only losing out in the time trial but the strongest rider on the road stages.

Olympic mountainbike representative Rosara Joseph also impressed, finishing in 31st place 4min 38sec down with Kaytee Boyd 39th, Sarah Murdoch 65th, Kerrienne Torckler 70th and Yvette Hill-Willis 87th.

Tour de Bretagne Feminin, overall classification:
Emma Pooley (GBR) 10:13.56, 1; Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL) at 11sec, 2; Lauren Franges (Team USA) at 19sec, 3. Other New Zealadners: Rosara Joseph at 4:38, 31; Kaytee Boyd at 8:24, 39; Sarah Murdoch at 26:01, 65; Kerrianne Torckler at 28:48, 70; Rachel Yvette Hill-Willis at 1:02.54, 87