Kashi Leuchs of Team Bianchi Agos took his first NORBA win in 6 years yesterday
when he rode a tactical race in the 3rd round of the prestigious US series.
Kashi beat out pre-race favourite Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) after surviving
an early race attack that would have left most riders back in the dust at the
high altitude venue.
The Deer Valley resort, which is home to Kashi?s first NORBA win back in 1999,
is at 2,500m and the altitude seems to please the 2 time Kiwi Olympian. Despite
a low finish in the time trial a day earlier, 27th, Kashi had the legs to ride
a strong middle section of the race, and then put in a solid climbing effort
towards the end to claim victory.
By the end of the first of three laps on the 13km circuit, Leuchs,
Horgan-Kobelski, Ryan Trebon (USA) and Todd Wells (USA) had established an
advantage over the rest of the field and barring any mechanical failures or
crashes, the race winner was sure to come from this group. The three Americans
however put some time into Kashi during the second lap, trying to get away from
the seasoned Pro who races much more in Europe these days, and had eventually
managed to get 15 seconds into Kashi at the end of 26km of racing. Kashi wasn?t
overly concerned, using most of the second lap to get into a good rhythm to
prepare him for an assault on the final lap. With just over 4km to go and after
having regrouped with the leaders, Kashi put in the effort on a tough section
of the course and managed to get away for the win.
"That was a good ride for me," Kashi said after the race.
Date:
19/06/2005