Mountainbiking: Leuchs peaking at right time

An unexpected World Cup title in France has New Zealand's Kashi Leuchs back on track to challenge the big guns at this month's mountain bike world championships in Rotorua.

Leuchs, 28, showed impeccable timing by winning a World Cup marathon event at the mountainous Val Thorens course over the weekend, just three weeks out from his major goal this year.

After peaking for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March -- where he placed fifth -- France-based Leuchs admitted he had struggled and strained for his best over the European summer as he lined up for a crack at the unfamiliar marathon distance race on Saturday.

"I was hoping the form would start to arrive about now," Leuchs told NZPA from his base in Annecy.

"I didn't know where I really was at so it was a nice surprise to feel the legs turning well and feeling good and comfortable on the bike."

Leuchs' decision to prioritise Melbourne and Rotorua meant his results with the Cannondale Vredestein team had been compromised to a degree.

Saturday's result reminded them what the world No 9 ranked rider was capable of, particularly in the tough, technical conditions which prevailed.

He pulled away to win by nearly seven minutes -- his time of three hours, 42 minutes nearly double what it takes him to complete his specialist Olympic-distance cross country races.

The win was tempered by crashes, punctures and detours to several of his main rivals but a little good luck was overdue for the Dunedin-raised cyclist.

"If this is the start of good form coming then that's perfect, it's just the way I intended it," he said.

Three weeks of altitude training in the Dolomite mountain range in northern Italy with rising New Zealand talent Marcus Roy had paid off.

That base, combined with a sound knowledge of the Rotorua world championships course had Leuchs confident of a strong showing in front of his home supporters. He won the Oceania cross country championships on the same steep venue in March.

"You can't get the same feeling training on a circuit than racing it so that's something I can draw on," he said.

"I've heard the course has become rougher over winter and that will suit me better with my full suspension bike.

"I'm hoping for a very rough and technical course."

Leuchs competes in Switzerland this weekend before a race in the United States on his way to Rotorua, where he arrives on August 15.

The world championships run from August 22-27.

- NZPA