Cycling: Kiesanowski just outside world top 10

New Zealand have five women in the top 100 of the latest world cycling rankings, with Canterbury's Joanne Kiesanowski just outside the top ten.

Kiesanowski, who won the sprint ace competition in last month's Tour de L'Aude, is in her first year riding with the professional Italian team Nobili Rubinetterie.

She is jointly ranked 11th with Australian Rochelle Gilmore of the Safi Pasta Zara Manhattan team.

Next are Wanganui's Catherine Sell on 45, Canterbury's Melissa Holt, who rides for the professional Danish SATS team on 56, and Europe-based national team members - Wellington's Susie Wood, 88th and Canterbury's Tamara Boyd, 98th.

Australian Oenone Wood is ranked No 1, with Equipe Nurnberger Verschirung teammate Judith Arndt, of Germany, second, and Sweden's Susanne Ljungskog (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) third.

New Zealand, who are running a team for the first time in Europe, are ranked 11th in the world teams rankings which is headed, in order, by Australia, Germany and the Netherlands.

- NZPA