Jeanson wins Tour de Snowy

COOMA, Australia (CP) -- Quebec teenager Genevieve Jeanson earned her first major victory at the senior level yesterday, winning the nine-stage Tour de Snowy women's cycling race.

The 18-year-old from Lachine, Que., finished the 478-kilometre race in 13 hours 41 minutes.

"A lot of people felt it would be a big step up for Genevieve to race at this level despite her wins (last year) at the world juniors," said 31-year-old Anne Samplonius, a Canadian team veteran who finished 31st overall. "Her victory here shows that she has what it takes. At that it's incredible at her age. She's a talented rider."

Tracey Gaudry finished second ahead of fellow Australian Anna Wilson.

The competition ended yesterday with two stages held in cold, damp weather. Jeanson finished 32nd in the 97-kilometre opener and 18th in the final 30-kilometre criterium, which was nearly cancelled because of heavy rainfall.

The victory means that Jeanson, who won two golds at the world junior championships last year, needs only one more top-eight international result to become eligible for the Olympics. She'll still have to make the Canadian team at trials later this summer.

Vancouver's Sandy Espeseth was 14th.

The Canadian team is back in action Sunday at the World Cup opener in Canberra, Australia.