Cycling: Ulmer 12th after third stage of Tour of Italy

Olympic track cycling champion Sarah Ulmer is 12th on general classification after today's (NZT) third stage of the Tour of Italy.

Ulmer, the reigning world and Olympic 3000m individual pursuit champion, is riding for the Danish SATS professional team in the 11-day tour.

She trails Swiss leader Nicole Brand by one minute on general classification.

Ulmer finished 11th in the 1.7km prologue, 10th in the mountainous stage one over 100.8km from San Mendimiano to Caerano di S Marco and 103rd in the second stage of 122km from Caerano di S Marco-Melara, which is described as a sprinters' stage.

Other New Zealanders were also well placed, with Joanne Kiesanowski, riding for Nobilii Rubinettrie, of Italy, finishing fourth in the second stage to be 40th on general classification.

Kiesanowski won the sprinter's ace title at the Franch Tour de l'Aude last month.

Michelle Hyland, riding for the American A S Team FRW/G S Top Girls, is 53rd on general classification, followed by Johanna Buick, of Team Bigla, and Melissa Holt, Ulmer's teammate with SATS, 78th.

In the points classification Kiesanowski is 10th with Ulmer 22nd while Hyland is 10th in the young rider classification.

The third stage tomorrow is 129.4km from Bergantino to Chioggia.

- NZPA