Clash of goals for Kiwi women

Sep 7th, 10. Rushlee Buchanan and Jo Kiesanowski are great road cyclists and great track cyclists - unfortunately this created a clash of goals for October.

Kiesanowski chose track over road for her October goal ©RoadCycling.co.nz

The women's road race at the UCI World Road Championships in Geelong, Australia is on October 2nd.

The track events of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India start on October 5th.

Logistically it was near impossible for the two Kiwis to compete in both competitions.  

In reality, they were told to choose.

"Because we are focusing on track at the Commonwealth Games, we weren't allowed to race Road Worlds as it's just too close," Kiesanowski told RoadCycling.co.nz this week.

Fortunately, the riders knew this was the situation a long time ago.  It was a tough call though.

Kiesanowski has raced the Road Worlds before and knew competing in them on this side of the world, with the expected large contingent of Kiwi supporters, would have been fantastic.   However, she decided a long time ago to give track her focus this year.

"We have a strong team competing there, so I'm sure they will represent well," said Kiesanowski, who has spent the last 10 years focusing on the road.

Buchanan is a road and track NZ Champion ©RoadCycling.co.nz

They were previously in the US racing for their respective road teams, Colavita Baci and Tibco. Both had successful seasons on the road and are now looking for success on the track.

The duo, and the rest of the NZ track team for the Games, are staying in Bordeaux until the 29th of September when they fly to Delhi.

Delhi might not be all about the track though.  

The six rider NZ women's road team for the Commonwealth Games has yet to be announced.  The Games road race is after the track events,  on the 10th of October.  Two riders from the Worlds road team, Cath Cheatley and Linda Villumsen are so far the only confirmed starters.  Fortunately, they have enough time to make the trip from Australia to India.

The rest of the team will be filled with riders who are at the Games for other events, track or time trial.  

The other Kiwi women at the Games besides Kiesanowski and Buchanan are former European pro Kaytee Boyd, time trial specialist Meshy Holt, 2009 track World Champion Alison Shanks, plus Lauren Ellis, Gemma Dudley and Jaime Nielsen.

Buchanan and Kiesanowski might have one final road race left in their international season.

Kiesanowski and Buchanan might not be going to the Worlds in Geelong, but if you are, please join the facebook group "Kiwis invading Geeling" so we can keep in touch and maybe create a Kiwi corner somewhere around the circuit!