Leadville Trail 100
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This August, the 16th annual Leadville Trail 100 mountain-bike race kicks off in America’s highest city. An expected record of 1,300 competitors will climb more than 14,000 vertical feet at an average elevation of two miles. Lance Armstrong says he’s returning, and Levi Leipheimer has committed too, both hoping to dethrone six-time winner Dave Wiens. But for most riders, the main goal is to not end up sucking air from one of eight oxygen bottles spread out along the course.
LT100 MTB Race starting line
LT100 MTB Race starting line
2,565
More vertical feet Leadville cyclists ride than Everest climbers ascend from Base Camp to the summit
2,500
People who applied for this year’s entrance lottery, which fills the race’s 1,400 slots, a 25 percent increase over last year
4,000
Dollars twice offered to race director Ken Chlouber for a spot in the race (he declined)
25%
Portion of riders who don’t finish
11
Expected cases of post-race high-altitude pulmonary edema