Archived news
Kashi Leuchs (NZ, Volvo-Cannondale), one of two mountain bikers selected to
represent New Zealand in Sydney, raced in the long format cross country
race finishing 4th behind the eventual winner Christoph Sauser
(Volvo-Cannondale), retaining 4th overall in the series. Speaking about
the muddy condition of the course Leuchs said, "I was having big difficulty
just holding my wheels, and kept losing places, ending lap one in around
20th position!". However, the course had some steep climbs which suits his
style so he clawed back the placings, passing his team mate Tinker Juarez
(USA) in the last lap to finish fourth.
On Sunday a shorter course was
raced with Leuchs leading for the first two laps but fading to finish 15th
and australian Cadel Evans (Volvo-Cannondale) grabbing his first victory
after breaking a collarbone earlier in the year.
Round Three of the NORBA series will be held July 28-30 in Deer Valley, Utah.
NZMBA
KASHI'S REPORT
Almost the whole Volvo/Cannondale team came for the 2nd round of the NORBA
series, so we were really hopeful for some good results! The course was
challenging, with some rain making the course nice and muddy. There were a
couple of good steep climbs too, so it suited my style
I realized up the first climb that it might not be my day! I was having big
difficulty just holding wheels, and kept losing places ending lap one in
around 20th position! I just concentrated on my own race, trying to keep
good speed and riding style. It paid off, as I started catching riders again
at the mid way mark. Christoph Sauser, Volvo/Cannondale, had taken a good
lead in the race, and I knew Tinker was ahead of me, so the team was having
a good day!
By the last lap I was in a group riding between 5th-8th. Then
Roland Green, GT., (recently 2nd at World Champs!) attacked and blew that
group apart. I then attacked Roland, and caught up with Tinker just before
the finish, so finished 4th. Christoph won the race (riding a Cannondale
Full-Suspension Jekel!) Kirk Molday 2nd, Pavel Tcherkassov 3rd, Tinker 5th.
Great day for Volvo Cannondale!
Yesterday, in the Short Track race, it was all action, as the flat course
provided for big bunch 'roady style' racing. Unfortunately for me, after
leading for 2 laps, my legs decided it was all a bit too much, and I quickly
fell back out of the top 15, which is about where I finished. Cadel Evens,
Volvo/Cannondale (after braking his chain yesterday,) provided a spectacular
victory in the final sprint.
posted by
jeff lyall
6/29/2000 05:24:10 PM
Kashi 3rd in World champs (under 23)
Results and pix mountainzone.com
Press release from the New Zealand Mountain Bike Association (NZMBA) Saturday 10 June 2000.
Bronze for Leuchs at World Mountain Bike Championships)
UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Sierra Nevada, Spain, 3-11 June 2000.
21 year old Kashi Leuchs (Dunedin) gained his second podium finish this season with a bronze medal in the under 23 Mens cross country race at the UCI World Championships in Spain yesterday.
Racing high in the Sierra Nevada mountains at an altitude of 2115 metres, the field of 86 riders battled over the tough, rocky 39 km course. Leuchs made an early break from the pack in the first lap, and worked together with the eventual winner and world-ranked number one espoir Jose Antonio Hermida (Spain) to create a 51 second gap on the rest of the competitors by the end of the first lap, which had extended to a minute and a half by lap two. Hermida broke away from Leuchs in lap three to stay in front unchallanged to take line honours for the rainbow jersey in a time of 2.08:34. Unfortunately for Leuchs he flatted at the bottom of the last rocky descent on the last lap and despite a fast change was passed by another spainard Marti Gispert Labarta who finally finished 30 seconds ahead of Leuchs.
This third placing comes in the middle of a strong World Cup race season for Leuchs, who races professionally for the Volvo/Cannondale race team, and will prove an excellent stepping stone if he is selected to represent New Zealand in the Olympic cross country race.
The UCI World Championships continue in Spain on Saturday, with Vanessa Quin (Giant) and Nathan Rankin (Foes/Azonic) representing New Zealand in the finals of the downhill, while Sadie Parker (Helly Hanson/Giant) will race in the Elite womens cross country race on Sunday.
Hira Wynyard/Helena Parsons-Mair
Final Placings
1 Jose Antonio HERMIDA (ESP) 2:08.34
2 Marti GISPERT LABARTA (ESP) 2:12.16
3 Kashi LEUCHS (NZL) 2:12.49
KASHI'S REPORT
Yesterday I finished 3rd in the Espoir class (Under 23) of the World
Champs. It was truly one of the most incredible feelings! The feeling of
national pride as the New Zealand flag was raised at the prize giving was
quite moving!
The race began well for me, as I held the lead for the first half lap. Jose
A Hermida (Spain), probably the pre-race favorite then bridged the gap on
the steepest climb. He then pushed the pace, while I was happy to ride on
his wheel for the majority of the next 2 laps. With one and a half laps
remaining Jose attacked me, and I could not stay with him anymore, so set
into a rhythm of my own.
With half a lap remaining I was 1min behind Jose
and 2min ahead of third. Then on the final time down the longest rough
decent I had a rear puncture. I did not want to accept the reality of the
situation, but I made a good change, and was back on the bike just after 3rd
place rider Marti Gispert Labarta (Spain) past me. I tried to catch him, but
my rhythm had been ruined with the stop, and he was riding strong.
The rainbow jersey went to Jose in a time of 2.08.34hr. Marti finished
second 3.42min behind. and I was a further 33sec back, still happy to be on
the podium!
There are only three other riders here representing New Zealand. Sadie
Parker, Female XC; Nathan Ranking, Men's DH; Vanessa Quinn, Female DH.
posted by
jeff lyall
6/29/2000 10:59:37 AM
Press release from the New Zealand Olympic Committee by way of Cycling New Zealand and the New Zealand Mountain Bike Association (NZMBA) Tuesday June 13 2000.
STRONG OLYMPIC CYCLING TEAM NAMED FOR SYDNEY 2000.
New Zealand will be represented by one of its strongest cycling teams ever at the Sydney Olympic Games beginning on September 15.
The New Zealand Olympic Committee and Cycling New Zealand today confirmed a ten person track team, seven person road team and two mountain bikers in the team to challenge the world's best cyclists in Sydney.
Cycling New Zealand's Convenor of Selectors Gordon Sharrock noted that this was probably one of the best teams he has selected in his lengthy involvement in cycling.
Commonwealth Games road cycling silver medalist, Susy Pryde, has dual commitments. Pryde will compete in the women's road race and will also don New Zealand colours for the mountain bike event.
1999 World Championship medalists Anthony Peden and Sarah Ulmer lead the track team.
Peden won a silver medal in the Keirin event at last year's world champs and will line up in that event in Sydney as well as the sprint. Ulmer will compete in the women's points race and individual pursuit. The Auckland cyclist won a bronze medal in the points race at last year's world champs. At the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Ulmer won a gold medal in the individual pursuit and backed that up in K.L. with a silver medal in the points race.
1992 Olympic bronze medalist Gary Anderson joins Lee Vertongen, Tim Carswell, Greg Henderson, Brendon Cameron in the teams pursuit. While only four can compete in the event, five athletes were selected to ensure at least one back up rider. This combination finished eighth at last years world championships. One of these riders will fill New Zealand's spot in the individual pursuit. This decision will be made closer to the Games.
New Zealand champion Matthew Sinton has been given the nod in the men's Kilo and will act as support to Peden in the Keiren. Fiona Ramage has been selected in the women's 500m and sprint. 1998 Commonwealth Games champion Glen Thomson completes the track squad having been selected in the men's points race. Thomson finished third in this event at the recent World Cup in Cali, Colombia.
The men's Road squad includes three riders who compete professionally in Europe. French based rider Chris Jenner, Julian Dean (Spain) and Belgian based Scott Guyton will be joined in the four man squad by USA based Glen Mitchell.
Susy Pryde, who won a silver medal in the women's Road race at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur will join Jacinta Coleman and Rosalind Reekie-May in the women's Road race.
Pryde has also been named as one of two New Zealand representatives in the Mountain Biking event. Pryde's most recent international event, held on the Olympic course, saw her finish more than two minutes ahead of Australian Olympic nominee, Hanneke Geysen.
Dunedin's Kashi Leuchs, who won a bronze medal in the under 23 cross country race in the most recent round of the world mountain biking championships in Spain last weekend has been selected in the men's event.
New Zealand Olympic Committee Secretary General Michael Hooper said he is impressed by the combinations selected.
"This is a New Zealand cycling team packed with talent and experience. The majority have performed with distinction on the world cycling stage and I am sure that they will wear the silver fern with great pride in Sydney."
Mark Harris, General Manager of Cycling New Zealand stated, "it's great to fill all but one spot for the Games."
"With the recent results attained and Susy Pryde selected for road and
mountain bike it is a tribute to the strength of the team."
posted by
jeff lyall
6/29/2000 10:56:20 AM
Testing
posted by
jeff lyall
6/29/2000 10:51:13 AM