Cycling: Kiesanowski top sprinter in French event

New Zealand road racer Joanne Kiesanowski topped the podium in the sprints category when the prestigious Tour de L'Aude women's cycling stage race ended in southern France this morning.

Kiesanowski, riding for the professional Italian team, Nobili Rubinetterie, wore the red jersey from start to finish of the 11-day tour, ending with 35 points, eight better than the runner-up, Youlissia Martissova of Russia.

The 25-year-old Christchurch rider also performed creditably through the tour, showing her all round prowess by finishing 39th on general classification (GC), sixth in the points classification and scoring second, third and fourth placings in three of the stages.

The New Zealand contingent in the race -- Toni Bradshaw, Michelle Kiesanowski, Johanna Buick, Tamara Boyd, Robyn Wong and Dale Tye, who formed the national team -- and Melissa Holt who rode for the Danish SATS professional team also performed well.

The New Zealand team finished 13th overall, one spot ahead of their Australian counterparts and well in front of national teams from Spain and Belgium.

Bradshaw was the best of the New Zealanders, finishing 31st on GC, followed by Joanne Kiesanowski (39th), Buick (45th), Michelle Kiesanowski (49th), Holt (54th), Wong (57th) and Boyd (69th).

The tour was won by American Amber Neden.

Today's punishing final stage from Axat to the Mijanes-Donezan Ski Station was raced in rainy weather.

"I'm really pleased to have won the red jersey -- it was one of the three biggest women's tours in the world," Joanne Kiesanowski told NZPA from the stage finish in the mountains.

"It was a 10-day tour and finished today with the hardest stage of the hardest race I've ever done in my life.

"It was 101km, but it was brutal with a couple of climbs beyond categorisation and it was raining as well so that made it worse."

Kiesanowski, rated the country's No 1 road rider but who is equally capable on the track, said the red jersey wasn't a goal but became one after she led the standings after the first stage.

Her next assignment will be at the Montreal leg of the World Cup on Saturday.

- NZPA