KEY POINTS:
Leading cross-country rider Kashi Leuchs has found renewed confidence ahead of the world mountain-biking and trials championships in Scotland this week - though he still has asthma worries.
The 29-year-old from Dunedin, ranked 14th in the world, bounced back from fatigue and an asthma attack to finish second in a road race in Europe last weekend - a timely boost given his breathing difficulties.
"I can say that my legs are feeling super and my confidence is growing by the day," Leuchs said.
"My only big concern now is my asthma, which is continuing to cause issues."
A two-time Olympian, Leuchs boasts two fifth placings in the UCI World Cup series this year and is keen to improve on his 16th placing at Rotorua last year.
He leads a 30-strong New Zealand contingent to the Scottish highlands, where the championships are being held at Fort William.
The championships start with the four-member mixed team event tomorrow, effectively a final tune-up for Leuchs, Melbourne Commonwealth Games silver medallist Rosara Joseph plus juniors James Williamson and Connor McFarlane.
The elite cross-country races are scheduled for Monday (NZT) and the downhill events on Tuesday.
Joseph, at Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship, is New Zealand's best hope in the cross-country, while downhill veteran Vanessa Quin - the 2004 world champion - leads the women's contingent in that discipline.
The 29-year-old is ranked 25th in the world, after top-10 finishes in three recent world cup contests in North America and Europe.
Wanganui's Sam Blenkinsop, second in the junior downhill world championships to compatriot Cameron Cole last year, moves up a division - to the elites - for the first time. Cole was unavailable after breaking his wrist competing in the United States in July.
New Zealand team
CROSS-COUNTRY
Male elite: Marcus Roy (Te Anau), Michael Northcroft (Taupo), Stu Holthan (Taupo), Kashi Leuchs (Dunedin), Eric Drower (Cambridge).
JUNIOR
James Williamson (Alexandra), Connor MacFarlane (Invercargill), Alex MacGregor (Alexandra), Ashley Hough (Rotorua).
FEMALE ELITE
Rosara Joseph (Wellington), Anga MacDonald (Dunedin), Jennifer O'Connor (UK-based), Kaytee Boyd (Auckland).
JUNIOR
Samara Shepherd (Wellington).
DOWNHILL
Male elite: Nathan Rankin (Levin), Sam Blenkinsop (Wanganui), Kieran Bennett (Nelson), Glenn Haden (Wanganui), Mike Skinner (Auckland).
JUNIOR
Mat Scoles (Alexandra), Michael Langford (Wellington), David Scandrett (Christchurch), Peter Cooper (Blenheim).
4X
Reon Boe (Levin)
FEMALE ELITE
Vanessa Quin (Tauranga), Jenna Makgill (Auckland), Scarlett Hagen (Queenstown), Amy Laird (Christchurch), Olivia Johnson (Christchurch)
- NZPA
