Kiesanowski doubtful for nationals

Jan 7th, 10. Jo Kiesanowski doesn't know if she'll be able to compete at this weekend's Elite Nationals road race after she crashed during the Canterbury Track Cycling Carnival.

The 30 year old who has been spending the NZ summer focusing on track success was racing at Denton Park on Tuesday when she crashed heavily.

"It was a good one, but I came off very well considering," Kiesanowski told RoadCycling.co.nz last night.

Luckily, she didn't break any bones but she did hurt her knee which is now stitched and causing her pain.  She also has concerns regarding concussion.

"I hit my head, so I am keeping an eye on that.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to race on the weekend." 

Although she has been concentrating on the track, with two successful World Cup events this season already, the Christchurch rider was looking forward to competing in the Road Nationals on Saturday.

"I know that climb like the back of my hand," she said of the Port Hills climb included in the circuit course.  

Kiesanowski was ranked the 3rd best women on the road in the US in 2009, all the more impressive considering she was the lead out rider for her team Tibco. Her team describe her as "A top level sprinter but also a strong climber, making her a powerful threat in any race".  

She would be a powerful threat on Saturday.  The course is quite similar to the Philadephia street race, Liberty Classic, where Kiesanowski placed 2nd. That course circuit included the infamous Manayunk Wall where the kiwi made the select group of 12 up the final climb.

With any luck she will recover quickly and be in the mix up the Dyers Pass Road climbs on Saturday too.

Before her untimely crash at Denton Park Kiesanowski showed off her top track form when she won the Women's Scratch Race.  Over 150m she appeared out of nowhere to catch a rider who had a 40m lead on her, and then she pipped her on the line.