 Sep 14th. 09. Kiwi Jo Kiesanowski is back in NZ after a fantastic US season where she ranked 3rd best rider in the US's top series, the NRC.
From her Christchurch home, Kiesanowski chatted to RoadCycling.co.nz's Ben Christian about the season just gone and on her big plans for the summer months.
Winning on the Laguna Seca raceway at the Sea Otter Classic (c)Ken Conley, Kwc.org
Huge US success
Although Kiesanowski's role in her professional women's team TIBCO is often to lead out other sprinters, her consistent placings throughout the season saw her finish 3rd in the prestigious USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC) rankings.
Kiesanowski said that whilst it was great to get the personal ranking, this was topped by her team winning best overall team.
"I wasn't really going for it but I racked up enough points to get third, which is nice. I was quite pleased with that," she said modestly.
"We won the overall team, that was our big goal for the year, so we're very happy and our sponsors are very happy," she added.
Kiesanowski has been honoured by her teammates who know they can rely on her for the pace needed by their final leadout rider. Back in May, teammate and US Champion Brooke Miller described one of Kiesanowski leadouts;
"Jo did an amazing leadout," Miller said. "On the final lap, coming out of the corner, Meredith took me up to Jo's wheel with a half lap to go. I told Jo I was there and she just took off. It was hard for me to even hold her wheel," she said.
This scenario played out across the US with the kiwi leading her teammates to victory. What is slightly unusual for a leadout rider is that Kiesanowski often held on for her own podium or Top 5 finishes.
When Kiesanowski was the top performing rider, her team also supported her for the win. At the Sea Otter Classic, Philadelphia, Joe Martin and Nature Valley events she was on the podium and she whitewashed the Tour of Wyoming winning all three stages and the overall title.
TIBCO are smart enough to have signed Kiesanowski for another year.
Highlight of the year on the bike?
Philadelphia podium (c) CJ Farquharson
"I was second at Philadelphia. It's always been my favourite race, in the world I think, so to get on the podium there, I was very pleased."
Sharing the win with her family added to the success.
"My parents, husband and friends were there watching," she said.
Amongst her other highlights was winning the criterium at the Sea Otter Classic on the famous Laguna Seca raceway track in Monterey. "That was kinda cool!"
Off the bike highlight for 2009?
Turning 30 might not have been the highlight of the year, but the visit from family to celebrate it was. "My parents, sister and my husband all came over from New Zealand and we went to the Indy 500. 400,000 spectators - an amazing thing to see, so impressive!" she said.
Winning at Joe Martin stage race
(c)Tom Ewart/NWA Photography
The end of the 2009 international road racing season
Kiesanowski's international road racing season has finished for 2009.
"I decided a long time ago that I didn't want to go to the World Champs this year. It was quite nice just being in the States and being home a lot more in Colorado. I wanted to come back to NZ and do track," she said.
Kiesanowski was 8th in the 2008 World Championships in Varese, Italy.
Track cycling plans
Whilst her international road racing season may be over, Kiesanowski has plenty more cycling goals for 2009.
The two time Olympic road cyclist is heading to Invercargill next month for the Track training camp in preparation for the Oceania Games, also in Invercargill, in November.
"New Zealand picks its team for the World Cup in Melbourne from the results of the Oceania games, so depending on results I'd like to do that," she said. "It depends on how the next month of training goes. That's why I ended the season in the US a little earlier."
Road racing for the New Zealand summer
Kiesanowski isn't putting her road race bike away for too long. The 2010 Elite Nationals being in Kiesanowski's home town is definitely a drawcard for January. "I know that climb like the back of my hand," she said of the Port Hills climb included in the Christchurch circuit course.
Exciting plans for 2010
Team TIBCO, who describe Kiesanowski as, "a top level sprinter but also a strong climber, making her a powerful threat in any race", have signed the successful kiwi for another year.
Although the full roster has not been finalised, Kiesanowski said two of the team's top riders will be back in 2010. Brooke Miller, the team sprinter who recently won four out of four races in Missouri, and Meredith Miller the current US Road Champion.
Similar to 2009, Kiesanowski will continue to race for whomever is on form and looking like winning.
As well as plans to light up the US season again, Team TIBCO are heading to Europe for six weeks in the Spring.
"Next year we are going to Europe, we are doing the spring races. We'll be racing four UCI World Cup events including the Tour of Flanders and Fleche Wallonne. That'll be cool to head back to Europe again," said Kiesanowski.
Footnote: Fellow kiwi Cath Cheatley is the 5th ranked US rider in the NRC.
Homepage and thumbnail photos: (c) Wil Matthews Photography
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