Cycling: Kiesanowski counts cost after loss

MELBOURNE - Canterbury cyclist Joanne Kiesanowski faces the toughest days of her career after a Friday night fight she didn't deserve to lose.

After forcing her way into bronze medal spot with a series of well-timed sprints in the women's points race, Kiesanowski lost five points for a technical offence.

Such was the confusion over what the Canadian chief referee had spotted, commissar Graeme Sycamore, a Kiwi, and the New Zealand cycling team headed by Michael Flynn, had different explanations for the offence.

There was a question of whether Kiesanowski had crossed the line on the blue strip, an automatic points-deducting offence. "That's not why I was DQed," Kiesanowski explained. "I knew that I wasn't on the blue. It was for a passing infringement. It was a very harsh decision," Kiesanowski said.

Flynn was furious at the call made by a Canadian referee on a 'foul' against a Canadian rider.

"Do you think I look this red in the face because we won? The question was raised about the blue but the video showed she was clearly sitting on the black line all the way," Flynn said.

"Then the question was raised if the lead cyclist is inside the red line no one can pass her underneath. I questioned whether the leader was inside the red when Jo was passing her and, on the video, it's difficult to see but the chief referee has that final decision. There's no appeal, so we have to abide by that. "I've seen it three times and it's inconclusive."

The Univega rider could see that they hadn't added her score to her total while she was still riding but had no idea of the infringement.

It's a huge blow to Kiesanowski. She has a good chance in the road race next Sunday and said her track work would assist her preparation.

"Preparing for the track is all about building up leg speed so that is not going to take anything away from my road work."

There will be no rest for Kiesanowski. The Sunday after the Games, she has her first race in Flanders for Univega.

-HERALD ON SUNDAY