Kiesanowski in Sprint Finish in Womens Tour de France

New Zealand cyclist Joanne Kiesanowski has finished third in the penultimate stage of the Tour de L’Aude Feminin in France.

Kiesanowski, the Beijing Olympian, was third in a sprint finish for stage eight, a 112km stint from Aunat to Limoux won by Dutch star Marianne Vos, t he former world road champion and Beijing track gold medallist.

The New Zealander, riding for the US-based Team Tibco, was in a break of six riders who held off the peloton.

Britain’s Emma Pooley (Cervelo Test Team) retains a healthy 4m42s lead with Linda Villumsen (HTC Columbia) the leading New Zealander in 14th place, 12:18 down on the leader.

The 10 day race, the women’s equivalent of the Tour de France, finishes with a 90.5km final stage to Carcassonne tomorrow.

Meanwhile world individual pursuit silver medallist Jesse Sergent remains in third place overall with two stages remaining in the Olympia’s Tour in The Netherlands.
Sergent finished in the peloton in today’s 224km stage to remain 1:02 down on his Trek-Livestrong teammate Taylor Phinney.