Kiesanowski takes third Kiwi win at Cascade

Jul 25th, 10.  With help from her Tibco teammates, Jo Kiesanowski won today's criterium at the Cascade Cycling Classic.  It is the 3rd win by a Kiwi in this US tour.

Jo Kiesanowski, Cascade criterium winner ©Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

"I was able to come off my teammate Brooke's wheel with about 200m to go and held them all off," Kiesanowski told RoadCycling.co.nz after the race.

"It always feels so good to win, I will be smiling for a while about this one!"

TIbco hadn't had a great tour to date and were motivated to ensure there was a bunch sprint today.  

All seven riders were attentive at the front of the peloton and jumped on all the breakaway attempts.  Coming into the bell lap they still had five riders on the front.

"We knew we had the strongest team for a fast leadout and it was impressive to see it work so well," Kiesanowski said. 

"The leadout really strung out the field, so it made it tough for the rest of them! Thanks girls for all your hard work."

Amanda Miller led the Tibco train through the start/finish. She gave way to Meredith Miller on the back straight, before passing to Emma Mackie then Brooke Miller and finally Kiesanowski hit out inside 200m to go.

"If you can come away with a stage win, then it's a successful tour. It's great to win the crit because it's right in downtown in front of lots of people, so it's really good exposure."

Kiesanowski's win makes it three wins by Kiwis this tour after Jesse Sergent (Trek Livestrong) won the opening prologue and Cath Cheatley (Colavita Baci) won the hilltop road race.

The win is also Kiesanowski's third this month.  Two weeks ago she won the one day Grand Cycling Classic in Michigan after outsprinting her Kiwi companion, Cheatley, in a two rider breakaway. Her other win this month was on America's Independence Day when she won the Joe Matava criterium in Seattle.

Northey ©Tom Ewart/NWA Photography from earlier in the season

Two Kiwis in the mix in the men's race

In the 75min men's race, an early break went at the beginning and held on for the entire criterium.  Amongst the aggressors in the break were Kiwis Jesse Sergent (new RadioShack stagiere) and Mike Northey, Rubicon Orbea. 

In today's final sprint Northey placed 4th and Sergent 5th.

"Pretty impressive, an awesome ride," was how Rubicon Orbea's guest Director Sportif Carl Williams (Bici Vida) described Northey's day.  Northey won a similar criterium at the Tour of America's Dairyland last month.

Other Kiwi successes

After finishing in the bunch today, Cheatley retained her Queen of the Mountain jersey and her 2nd place in the GC +1m44s behind US Champion Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co.TWENTY12).

Rushlee Buchanan (Colavita Baci) also kept her Best Young Rider jersey.

In the men's race, Jeremy Vennell (Bissell Pro Cycling) finished with the chasing bunch and retained his 5th position on the General Classification.

The other Kiwis all finished safely, ready to work for their team leaders again tomorrow when the Cascade Cycling Classic concludes with a road race.

Related

• Read all the latest successes from Kiwi internationals in the Kiwi section of the site
• Cascade Cycling Classic results