Cycling: Mountainbike upset

Kashi Leuchs received a rude welcome home when he suffered an unexpected defeat in the national mountainbike series near Queenstown yesterday.
Fresh from another season in Europe, the Dunedin rider, ranked No 16 in the world, was expected to dominate the elite men's cross- country race in the second round of the series at Coronet Peak.

Instead, he found himself upstaged by Rotorua's Clinton Avery, who had also won the race in the opening round of the series.

Leuchs pushed Avery all the way before the Rotorua rider prevailed in a 200m sprint finish to the line.

The elite women's race was won by Aucklander Annika Smail, who dominated throughout to head home Robyn Wong, of Wellington, and Sonia Foote, of Rotorua.

The third round of the series is in Christchurch next weekend.