Leuchs, Joseph solid at world championships

New Zealand’s leading crosscountry mountainbikers, Kashi Leuchs and Rosara Joseph had solid if unspectacular hit-outs on an unforgiving course at the UCI World Championships in Italy today.

Leuchs was 47th in the men’s race while Joseph was 30th in the women in races that claimed some major scalps at the alpine resort village of Val di Sole.

France’s Julien Absalon, who has won the last four world titles and the Athens Olympic gold medal, faded out and did not finish while four-time women’s champion Gun Rita Dahle was also unable to match the hot pace.

It proved a Swiss trifecta in the men’s race over 41km with Christoph Sauser finishing clear of compatriots Florian Vogel and Ralph Naef. Sauser and Vogel set a blistering pace from the gun to spread-eagle the field, with Sauser making the break with two laps remaining.

Leuchs, 30, could not match the hot early pace and was not happy with his race.

“Kashi just had no petrol left in the tank today,” team manager John Kirkaldie said. “The race just did not go as he thought it would for him because he has been in such good form this year.”

It was a similar story in the women’s race with a small group clear early before Fullana and European champion Spitz cleared out dropping defending champion Kalentieva with some other big guns including Dahle unable to match the pace.

Joseph, 26, was cautious given the event was her first race back from a broken ankle that has sidelined her for the past few weeks.

Rosara was very happy overall. She was watchful and slow from the start but she felt strong and move up through the field which was encouraging.”

Auckland’s Kaytee Boyd was 58th, two laps down on the winner.

Kirkcaldie said it was a challenging world championships with the downhill riders the stars of the overall New Zealand performances.

“They achieved some outstanding results. To get five riders in the world’s top 25 was a brilliant effort especially on such a demanding, steep and technical course.”

Results:

UCI Mountainbike World Championships, crosscountry:
Men, 41ikm: Christoph Sauser (SUI) 1:58.26, 1; Florian Vogel (SUI) 2:01.21, 2; Ralph Naef (SUI) 2:02.46, 3. Kashi Leuchs (NZL) 1 lap down, 47th.

Women, 29km:Margarita Fullana (ESP) 1:39.01, 1; Sabine Spitz (GER) 1:40.44, 2; Irina Kalentieva (RUS) 1:41.21, 3. New Zealanders: Rosara Joseph 1L52.46, 30; Kaytee Boyd 2 laps down, 58th.