In 2010, Armstrong was unable to return due to injury, but his Team RadioShack teammate Levi Leipheimer, riding in his first mountain bike race, won and set a new course record of 6:16:37. And a few weeks ago, I met Ian Sharman in the mountains of Colorado just two days before the start of the Leadville Trail 100. From its inception, the course was unique in the mountain-biking world because of its extremely high altitude and its out-and-back style. Both races were begun by Ken Chlouber as part of an effort to spur the economy of the town of Leadville after a local mine that employed many residents closed (the Climax mine). MOBILE. [2] while holding off Floyd Landis by just under 2 minutes. These course typically cover similar paths (roads, dirt roads, gravel roads and mild trails) with similar vertical elevation gains (~100 feet per 1 mile). VIRTUAL COURSE MAP Check out our virtual course map — brought to you by Trail Genius — for a complete tour of the 2015 Leadville Trail 100 MTB course including video, GPS data, detailed terrain profiles and other key features to … The real prize for serious competitors, however, is the big belt buckle that comes with finishing in less than nine hours. He seemed like the perfect expert to give our rookies advice on this 100-mile mountain bike race that climbs about 12,000 feet in total and never dips lower than 9,000 feet above sea level. In 2009, Armstrong returned winning and establishing a new course record of 6:28:50.9. Major climbs include an over 3,000 feet (910 m) ascent from miles 40–50 to the Columbine mine, Powerline at mile 80, and St Kevins at mile 86. They are found in the Leadville Trail 100 MTB Athlete Guide and also in the event schedule on the website.[3]. Pros, Amateurs Hope for the Watts to Conquer Powerline, Leadville Trail 100: Loving Life at 10,000 Feet, EF Education First Sending Morton, Howes and Phinney to Leadville 100, Leadville Race Series Economic Impact Study Results, Durango’s Todd Wells Once Again King of Leadville 100 MTB. A year later, fitness company Life Time acquired the races and used them as the cornerstone for a Leadville Race Series that now includes several other running and cycling events throughout the summer, drawing thousands of competitors to town. Locking times also apply. 79 episodes Leadville — The 100 Mile Mountain Bike Race Podcast, p/b Floyd's of Leadville is the show for people racing (or just interested in) The Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race. The Achilles' Heel of climbing in the Leadville 100 Run/Bike race series. The Leadville 100 is a classic and iconic 100-mile footrace that takes place in stunning Leadville, CO at altitudes between 9,200 and , feet above sea level. Ideal bike just for just Leadville I think would be something like a Salsa Mamasita with sick light wheels & Stan's tires. Fatty (a 22-time LT100 finisher), Hottie, and a host of experts answer your questions, give you training tips, detail the course, and tells the stories about the highest and hardest one-day mountain bike race in America: The Leadville Trail 100 … Course. The qualifying events are similar to the Leadville 100 race but shorter, typically around 100 km in length. Riders must check out of each aid station prior to the cut-off times. The Leadville Trail 100 Run (aka The Race Across The Sky or the LT100) is an ultramarathon held annually on rugged trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado, through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Created by Leadville resident Ken Chlouber in 1994 as an outgrowth of the Leadville Trail 100 Run, the race was part of Chlouber’s effort to kickstart Leadville’s economy after a local mine shut down and left many residents out of work. MAGNETIC. If you’re not familiar, the LT100 is one of the most difficult races in the world: Any finisher who completes the course in less than twelve hours—the race cutoff—receives a silver belt buckle. The St. Kevins climb is your first chance to rev your engine but you’ll need to play it smart and hold yourself back to Tempo, you’ve got a lot of riding and even more altitude yet to come. The first mountain bike race drew just 150 entrants, while the 2009 edition allowed 1400 entrants. That’s too late. Major climbs include an over 3,000 feet (910 m) ascent from miles 40–50 to the Columbine mine, Powerline at mile 80, and St Kevins at mile 86. Leave your best tips, advice, and stories in the … The course dips down to 9,200 feet at its lowest point, but the vast majority of the racing is done above 10,000 feet. The Leadville Trail 100 MTB course mirrors the original running course, but with several changes to account for the difference between running and mountain biking. [1] The actual length of the course is approximately 104 miles. Leadville — The 100 Mile Mountain Bike Race Podcast, p/b Floyd's of Leadville is the show for people racing (or just interested in) The Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race. This deeply rutted jeep road, which runs beneath power lines and the towers that hold them up, is the penultimate climb in the race at about the eighty-mile mark. In 2011, a conflict with the Tour of Utah kept Leipheimer away, but U.S. national cross-country bike champion Todd Wells turned in the second-fastest time ever to win, 6:23:38, while Rusch won the women's race again and shaved over 15 minutes off her previous record, with 7:31:46. The Leadville 100 MTB race features 3 major climbs on the out & back course: Columbine, Powerline, and St. Kevins. Success at this Saturday’s Leadville Trail 100 MTB race high in the Colorado Rockies will require a mix of good legs and good luck. The race Like the footrace, the Leadville Trail 100 MTB was intended to help boost the town’s economy. At that point, tired riders confronting Powerline’s steep grades, unforgiving terrain, and never-ending length (3.4 miles) often are reduced to walking major portions of the climb. Since then, Leadville has hosted thousands of runners and cyclists. Then the training doesn’t occur until the four-to-six weeks prior to the race. The course is an out and back and features, five climbs: St Kevins, Sugarloaf, Columbine Mine, Powerline & Carter / St Kevins. On race day, you should have complete confidence in all the hard work you put in to get there. Matthew Beaudin, “Pros, Amateurs Hope for the Watts to Conquer Powerline,” VeloNews, August 10, 2013. “Ken Chlouber,” Marin Museum of Bicycling, 2018. Today the Leadville Trail 100 MTB is held in mid-August as one of eight local races in the Leadville Race Series, which is owned by upscale gym company Life Time. Belt buckles and timing aside, the elite racers are vying for a place on the podium, and the Leadville Trail 100 MTB has garnered attention over its history from several notable pros and high-profile names. The fabled Powerline descent in the 2011 running of the Leadville Trail MTB 100 Race in Leadville Colorado. The Leadville Trail 100 MTB course mirrors the original running course, but with several changes to account for the difference between running and mountain biking. Armstrong's involvement with the race has brought increased attention to the Leadville Trail 100 MTB, evidenced by the fact that race organizers offered a live webcast for purchase beginning in 2009. Racers must checkout of aid stations prior to cutoff times. The race grew and began to attract athletes from across the country to the town at 10,000 feet above sea level. On paper, Saturday's Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race bore distinct similarities to the toughest stages of the Tour de France. In the concurrent women's race, two-time winner Rebecca Rusch also broke the course record, which had stood since 1997. The Leadville Trail 100 MTB is planned for August 14, 2021 Leadville Trail 100 Run is planned for August 21-22, 2021. My journey to the Leadville 100 MTB, also known as The Race Across the Sky, started accidentally last June when I raced the Fireroad 100 as a training race for the Crusher. LT100 Qualifiers are long and tough, with lots of climbing. The notorious Powerline climb can also prove decisive. Congratulations, you've made it to the 2013 Leadville 100 MTB. What is Plan Builder? In 2007, Wiens broke the 7 hour mark for the first time at 6:58:46. In 2008, Wiens won again beating Lance Armstrong by just under 2 minutes and setting a new course record of 6:45:45 [3]. Easily the most famous rider to have toed the line at the Leadville Trail MTB 100 is Lance Armstrong. The lottery entries are due by the end of December for the race that is run the second Saturday in August. Sally Bigham has been crowned champion three times. Here are the highlights of our conversation. Every fall and winter, I hear shallow words from people about the training they planto do. After Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles in 2012 for doping violations, Chlouber stated that Armstrong would keep his Leadville title; the race is not bound by US Anti-Doping Agency or International Cycling Union decisions. The film Race Across the Sky chronicled the duel, which Armstrong won in record time. The Leadville 100 MTB Course. Leadville Trail 100 | Special to the Daily Eagle-Vail cyclist Cristhian Ravelo encountered numerous mechanical problems in this year’s Leadville 100, something he’s come to expect in a long race like that … [1] The race has continued to grow and expand its entrant base. EXPLORE KARTA MAPS - DIY MAP BUILDER . Riders start in downtown Leadville and roll on paved streets with a police escort to the dirt. Mountain Bike Race Across the Sky. Total elevation gain is somewhere around 11,000 feet (3,400 m) when verified by GPS tracks of past comp… The former pro road cyclist was a household name when he entered the race in 2008, after having already won seven straight Tour de France titles. Have you raced the Leadville Trail 100 MTB? The 100 MTB course is also 100 miles and you can apply as an individual, tandem, or group. Competitors continue around Turquoise Lake and south through the San Isabel National Forest to Columbine Mine, which is the midpoint of the race and also the highest point on the course at roughly 12,500 feet. They are similar to the classic course at Leadville in that they consist mainly of rugged jeep roads of gravel and dirt. Rose Grant of Montana won the race in 2019. First held in 1983, the Leadville Trail 100 Run is one of the oldest and largest 100-mile trail-running races in the United States. Video was created to give newbies a true feeling of what to expect. DIY MAPS. From its inception, the course was unique in the mountain-biking world because of its extremely high altitude and its out-and … On the women’s side, Rebecca Rusch has won the Leadville Trail 100 MTB four times. Attendance was modest at first, attracting only a few dozen runners, but the race quickly proved popular in the ultrarunning community. View Cart Checkout Cart subtotal: $ 0.00 First run in 1983, the race course climbs and descends 15,600 feet (4,800 m), with elevations ranging from 9,200-12,620 … The Leadville 100 Run course covers 100 miles over extreme and rocky terrain, from elevations of 9,200 to 12,600 feet. Born out of a struggling mining town down on its luck, the Leadville Trail 100 put the small Colorado town of Leadville on the map. Some entries are awarded by a random lottery, while other entries are awarded by finishing well in a series of qualifying events. John Livingston, “Durango’s Todd Wells Once Again King of Leadville 100 MTB,” Durango Herald, August 13, 2016. “Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB,” Leadville Race Series, n.d. Ann E. Wibbenmeyer, “LT 100 Now Part of Life Time Fitness,” Leadville Herald Democrat, August 5, 2010. Near Leadville North, Colorado. Not until 1994 did Chlouber add a mountain bike event to the original run. The Leadville Trail 100 MTB was first run in 1994 and has become one of the best marketed, attended and known marathon events in mountain bike racing. Failure to do so will end the racer's competitive time and result in a did not finish (DNF) race result status. Your cart is empty! The sharp decline of the Climax Mine starting in 1982 devastated Leadville, which soon lost roughly one-third of its population. As one of the most well-known mountain bike races on earth, getting into the Leadville Trail 100 MTB has always been difficult. DRY ERASE. There is very little of Leadville that can't be ridden seated on a hardtail. Known for its tough, high-elevation course in the shadow of central Colorado’s Sawatch Range, the race has resulted in remarkable performances by the Rarámuri (Tarahumara) runners of Mexico as well as course … Trust your training plan and all the workouts that lead up to the start line by making a custom training plan with Plan Builder. The Leadville Trail 100 MTB is the second oldest of the growing number of 100-mile (160 km) marathon mountain bike races held in the United States, the first being the Wilderness 101 in Central PA. At Leadville he lost to Dave Wiens, then returned in 2009 for a rematch with the six-time Leadville winner. The Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race, currently known as the Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB, covers 100 miles in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado on a mix of alpine trail, dirt road, and pavement. The Course. But it gives us a window into the training that’s done for specific events. Also like the footrace, it started small, with only 145 competitors taking to the course in the first year, and quickly grew as it gained popularity. This year 829 runners started the race, 374 people finished under the 30-hour time limit (a 45% finisher rate). The race is run on a 50-mile (80 km) out and back course, starting and finishing in downtown Leadville, Colorado, United States, at 10,200 ft (3,100 m) elevation. His primary goal was to finish in less than nine hours, well before the course cut-off of twelve hours, earning himself a proud finish for a sea level dwelling first-timer as well as the coveted Gold Buckle finishers medal. There is a lottery to get into the race, or competitors can qualify with a top finish at other Life Time mountain-bike races in Leadville and around the country. Leadville 100 MTB: What it takes to ride the legendary race I have 2 friends who finished top 20 on same. It was a qualification race for Leadville, and I did well enough to earn a spot in the Red corral, 3rd from the front. Howard Grotts became the sixth man to win consecutive Leadville Trail 100 MTB titles Saturday. Colorado’s Laurie Brandt has also won the race four times. Now the race itself is often nicknamed the Race Across the Sky as a result of the film. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com Quinn Simmons chased the leaders all day after getting tacks in his tires at Leadville 100. In 2019, racer entries totaled 1,644.[2]. In the final leg toward the race finish, racers must finish prior too a 9-hour cutoff time to qualify for the "big buckle" and a 12-hour cutoff time for completion and to qualify for the "small buckle". The Leadville Race Series began in 1983 with just 45 runners in an epic 100-mile footrace. This is where your eyes will roll back in your head! Even as the Leadville Trail 100 MTB has grown in capacity—the 2019 starting line was packed with 1,400 competitors—it has been far outpaced by incredibly high demand for entries. After Lance Armstrong’s victory at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB in 2009 and the publication the same year of Christopher McDougall’s bestseller Born to Run, which prominently featured the Leadville Trail 100 Run, the Leadville races surged in popularity. I found other videos incredibly helpful and had my efforts in mind for this. Most recently, Howard Grotts has won the race three times in a row, from 2017 to 2019. Total elevation gain is somewhere around 11,000 feet (3,400 m) when verified by GPS tracks of past competitors. The Leadville 100 Run course covers 100 miles over extreme and rocky terrain, from elevations of 9,200 to 12,600 feet. Other pro cyclists who have participated in the Leadville Trail 100 MTB include Levi Leipheimer (who set a course record when he won in 2010), Floyd Landis, Dave Zabriskie, Lachlan Morton, Alex Howes, Taylor Phinney, and Joe Dombrowski. The sun can also play a factor on hot days, as most of the climb is completely exposed. No, of course you don’t need to run their workouts! stages cycling LEADVILLE TRAIL 100 MTB Click the link below to download the Leadville Trail 100 Bike course map (This may take a little bit depending on your connection speed) DOWNLOAD MAP. On August 15, approximately 2,000 mountain bikers will roll up to the starting line of the Leadville 100, an epic 100-mile race that—despite its daunting length and 12,612 feet of elevation gain—is approachable for intermediate riders who are committed to a goal.Consisting mostly of fire roads, the out-and-back course … The difficult Columbine climb is often the decisive moment of the race, but before competitors even reach that point, they must tackle several other hard climbs, including the Sugarloaf climb that tops out at more than 11,000 feet less than twenty miles into the race. Eddie Clark, “Leadville Trail 100: Loving Life at 10,000 Feet,” MountainFlyer, August 15, 2010. “EF Education First Sending Morton, Howes and Phinney to Leadville 100,” Cycling News, August 7, 2019. These times place limits on the amount of time racers have to finish a course leg. 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