Check here often for the latest updates on Kashi's exploits
Thursday, August 30, 2001
Hi,
Right now I am up in Winterpark Colorado, together with Helena and also most the Volvo/Cannondale team. We are doing altitude preparation for the Vail World Champs coming up in 3 weeks. We are being really spoiled, staying in a luxury log house with great food cooked every day.
I have just decided to start working together with my friend, Martin Whiteley. He and his company, "23 degrees", will help promote me, as well as acting as my agent for all future sponsorship agreements. Martin helped me a lot in my first year racing over seas, so its kind of fun to start working together again now!
26th August 2001- WORLDCUP Finals, Mont-Saint Anne, Quebec CANADA
They usually like to give us a tough race at the finals, and this was definitely the case here! The course was shortened from last year, which just meant we had to do the toughest sections more times. It was an exciting race for the overall World Cup, because 3 riders still had a fair chance at the title, Miguel Martinis, Jose Hermida and Roland Green.
I started with the number 9 plate, and for the first time in my career, on the front line! I managed to hang with the lead pack of 10 for the first lap, but hang-on it was, until finally I decided the pace was just too high. For a while I felt terrible and slipped back to 14th, but then I forced my self to stick to Bas-Van Dooren until I regained my rhythm. I really never felt great, but I did manage to pass a few more riders on the final laps and ended up 10th.
My overall ranking also moved up one spot, and I finished the season in 8th place, which was better then I had ever hoped for.
The DH on Saturday was probably the most exciting one I had ever seen. First John Kircaldie and then Nathan Rankin sat in the hot seat (because they held the fastest time) for many minutes. Finally with only 5 riders left Nathan got edged out and we watched the big battle for the world cup overall between Nico the legend and young Greg Minaarr from South Africa. It came down to who ever posted the faster time in this run, and finally Greg overcame all the pressure to win by under half a second. I had goose bumps all over! Vanessa Quinn also had a good ride coming home in 10th place I think.
17th August 2001- NORBA Finals, Mt Snow, Vermont USA
I managed to have one last day at home on Tuesday before making the final journey across the ocean for the year. Two days later we were again on the start line, together with all 3 of my team mates, and the Canadians Roland Green and Ryder Hesjedal who were nice and fresh after missing the last 2 European world cups.
After the first lap the course had already split the field apart. I had managed to stick with Roland upfront, and Shamus McGrath was just behind. Cadel was not far back when he had a bike problem taking him out of the race. On the next major climb Roland put on the gas, and I decided to back off, instead of risking to blow up again. Then for the next 3 (of 5) laps Shamus and myself worked together, but were still losing a lot of time to the raging Roland! On the final lap I was feeling the pinch and Shamus climbed away from me, but I was just happy to hang on to my 3rd 3rd this season in NORBA !
My team mate Tinker Juarez came in shortly after in 5th place, so for the 4th time in not many weeks I was on the podium with another Volvo/Cannondale team mate!
The following day we had the short track race, but I have nothing much exciting to tell about my race! Upfront it was a great battle with different leaders every few minutes, and a large front group of 10 riders. Unfortunately it was the same old winner, with Roland over powering every one, one more time! I came in 12th, and was still completely hammered afterwards. These races are tough!!!
posted by
jeff lyall
8/30/2001 10:09:35 AM
Tuesday, August 28, 2001
Dunedin Mountainbiker Kashi Leuchs moved up to 8th place overall in the mountainbike World Cup after finishing 10th in the final round at Monte Sainte Anne Canada .
The event was won by Canadian Roland Green who finished three minutes ahead of Leuchs. Aucklander Sadie Parker was the highest finishing of the New Zealanders in the womens event in 20th place, 2 minutes ahead of Lisa Savage in 25th.
Monte Sainte-Anne World Cup final. Mens Cross Country:
1. Roland Green, CAN, Trek/Volkswagen, 1:59:29.00
2. Ryder Hesjedal, CAN, Subaru-Gary Fisher, 2:00:09.00;
3. Jose Antonio, Hermida, ESP, Bianchi Motorex, 2:00:24.00;
4. Thomas Hochstrasser, SUI, Giant Bicycles, 2:00:29.00;
5. Seamus Mcgrath, CAN, Haro/Lee Dungarees, 2:00:40.00;
6. Michael Rasmussen, DEN, Haro/Lee Dungarees, 2:00:43.00;
7. Christoph Sauser, SUI, Volvo Cannondale, 2:01:53.00;
8. Lado Fumic, GER, Team T Mobile, 2:02:04.00;
9. Bart Brentjens, NED, Giant Bicycles, 2:03:03.00;
10. Kashi Leuchs, NZL, Volvo Cannondale, 2:03:11.00;
51. Tim Vincent , NZL, Bianchi Motorex
61. BISHOP, Paul NZL, NEW ZELAND
Womens Cross Country:
1. Chrissy Redden, CAN, Subaru-Gary Fisher, in 2:03
2. Caroline Alexander, GBR, Specialized,
3. Barbara Blatter, SUI, Specialized,
20. Sadie Parker, NZL, Trek NZ,
25. Lisa Savage, NZL, New Zealand,
30. Rebecca Cullen, NZL, Raceline,
33. Brenda Clapp, NZL, Gary Fisher,
36. Robyn Wong, NZL, Gary Fisher,
Source: Go here for more details as written by Ari Cheren
http://www.mountainbike.com/news/news/news_20010826-24200.shtml
http://www.mountainbike.com/news/news/news_20010826-18994.shtml
posted by
jeff lyall
8/28/2001 03:24:30 PM
Sunday, August 19, 2001
Dunedin Mountainbiker Kashi Leuchs made it three podiums in a row when he finished third in the final of the prestigious NORBA mountainbike series in Mount Snow Vermont.
Leuchs finished 4 minutes back from Canadian rider Roland Green who won the race and the series..
Leuchs now has to recover before the World Cup finals next week in Mont Sainte Anne Canada where he is currently lying in 9th place overall in the series..
NORBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FINAL, Mount Snow, VT. August 17 2001.
Men's cross-country.
1. Roland Green (Can), Trek-Volkswagen, 2:01:20.
2. Seamus McGrath (Can), Haro-Lee Dungarees, at 3:34.
3. Kashi Leuchs (NZ), Volvo-Cannondale, at 4:22.
4. Ryder Hesjedal (Can), Subaru-Gary Fisher, at 4:28.
5. Tinker Juarez, Volvo-Cannondale, at 4:59.
6. Geoff Kabush (Can), Kona-Ford Focus, at 6:03.
7. Travis Brown, Trek-Volkswagen, at 6:14.
8. Kirk Molday, SunRace-Santa Cruz, at 6:41.
9. Luke Stockwell (Aus), Zaxby's, at 6:44.
10. Craig Gordon (Aus), Australian National Team, at 7:07..
Sources:.
http://www.velonews.com/race/mtn/articles/1351.0.html .
http://www.velonews.com/race/mtn/articles/1351.r.html .
http://www.mountainbike.com/news/news/news_20010817-1477.shtml .
posted by
jeff lyall
8/19/2001 09:06:40 AM
Monday, August 13, 2001
World Cup Cross Country Mountainbike race No. 7 KAPRUN, AUSTRIA
Men's XC Results:
1. Thomas Frischknecht (SUI, Ritchey Yahoo) in 2:02
2. Cadel Evans (AUS, Volvo-Cannondale) at :51 sec.
3. Roel Paulissen (BEL, Team GT) at 2:28
4. Kashi Leuchs (NZL, Volvo-Cannondale) at 2:48
5. Filip Meirhaeghe (BEL, Specialized) at 3:11
6. Michael Rasmussen (DEN, Haro/Lee Dungarees) at 3:22
7. Jose Hermida (ESP, Bianchi Motorex) at 3:37
8. Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant Bicycle) at 4:20
9. Rune Hoydahl (NOR, Giant Bicycles) at 4:25
The busy race schedule continued the past couple of weeks with world cups in Leysin (Switzerland) and Kaprun (Austria). After my 2nd place finish in Durango, I was full of confidence for Leysin! And the fact that I was in the lead group on the 3rd of 5 laps, and feeling good, made me feel like I could take on the world! I attacked mid lap, and opened a good gap, with Miguel Martinez 10sec back. He caught me after a while, so I just sat on him, and waited for my team mate Christoph Sauser to bridge onto us. Then it was us three with a minute lead. But at the start of the steepest climb on the 4th lap, Miguel attacked. Suddenly my great legs disappeared, and my head felt a little dizzy! They dropped me, and I continued at half the pace, fighting to hold my position. Unfortunately, I had blown so badly that I could hardly ride in a straight line, let alone world cup pace! On the last lap I lost 11 places and over 4 mins to little Mig, finishing 14th.
The next best NZer, Stuart Houltam did very well, and earned some valuable worldcup points by finishing 68th.
This week in Kaprun I was determined not to blow, so I changed to a more conservative race plan, aiming just for podium, no matter how I felt. We were actually really lucky with the weather because some heavy rain on Friday cancelled the time trial, which meant we started in World Cup rank order (for me, 10). And I had a great start too, in 3-5th place for the first half lap!
After the race the other kiwis told me of the chaos going on behind. They had to start back in the hundreds, and were held up for minutes at some sections, cueing to get through the tight single tracks. Riders were running way off track to get past and it was just free-for-all ! I know what this is like, so I appreciated every advantage of my great position up front. I held a good tempo, but making sure not to over do it, but I was still able to stay in the top 7-8 for the first 3 laps. At one point I had just bridged up to the lead group of 5 (and so then all 3 of us Volvo/Cannondale riders were in the group!) But, then Thomas Frishy crashed, and I was pushed down a steep bank, crashing over the bars!! I lost the group, but I continued at my own pace, knowing that if I stay smooth, I would catch some of them.
The main decent was really slippery, and I guess because of all my practice riding mud in Dunedin, I was gaining 20-30sec each lap. By the last lap I caught Filip Meirhager and Roel Paulison in 3rd and 4th. Thomas was leading ahead of Cadel Evans, and Christoph had a mechanical problem, dropping him back into the 20s. Thankfully my race plan worked and I still had good legs on the final lap, dropping Filip, and hanging on just behind Roel. Finally Roel had the edge over me, and I finished a very happy 4th.
Next week, travel to USA, then NORBA in Mount Snow on Friday and Saturday.
Later,
Kashi
10. Ludovic Dubau (FRA, Team Orbea) at 4:40
http://www.mountainbike.com/news/news/news_20010812-7663.shtml
posted by
jeff lyall
8/13/2001 09:29:40 AM
Tuesday, August 07, 2001
Results from Leysin World Cup XC round 6
1 3 FRA19760117 MARTINEZ Miguel FRA FULL DYNAMIX 1:57:23.00
2 8 SUI19760313 SAUSER Christoph SUI VOLVO CANNONDALE 1:58:11.00 48
3 30 FRA19731117 DUBAU Ludovic FRA ORBEA 1:58:51.00 1:28.00
4 5 FRA19800816 ABSALON Julien * FRA BIANCHI MOTOREX 1:59:04.00 1:41.00
5 12 BEL19760427 PAULISSEN Roel BEL TEAM GT 1:59:44.00 2:21.00
14 9 NZL19780630 LEUCHS Kashi NZL VOLVO CANNONDALE 2:02:06.00 4:43.00
15 4 AUS19770214 EVANS Cadel AUS VOLVO CANNONDALE 2:02:27.00 5:04.00
69 98 NZL19791223 HOULTHAM Stuart * NZL NEW ZEALAND MTB ASSOCIATION 2:16:36.00 19:13.00
84 127 NZL19760330 VINCENT Tim NZL BIANCHI MOTOREX SUI - 1 lap
91 125 NZL19811006 HOULTHAM Jeremy * NZL NEW ZEALAND MTB ASSOCIATION - 1 lap
97 121 NZL19781016 LEISHAM Mark NZL RACELINE - 2 laps
posted by
jeff lyall
8/7/2001 08:20:58 AM
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