The race will go on, but a new route means riders can’t compare to benchmark times, and air quality remains a concern.
Josh Weinberg, Jack Duncan
Just over a month ago, the Willow Fire ignited a few miles outside of Leadville, Colorado in hot, dry conditions made worse by one of the state’s lowest snowpacks on record. As of August 4, the wildfire was 67% contained but remained active and had burned a total of 7,200 acres, including key sections of the Leadville 100 MTB course like the Powerline climb. The race is scheduled for August 15, just nine days away.
Amid the fire, Leadville organizers Life Time Fitness largely remained quiet about key questions around the race, such as necessary re-routes, changes to rules on entry deferrals or whether the race would take place at all. On Thursday, the promoter finally answered some of those questions.
The new course avoids areas closed by the fires but will miss key sections like Powerline and Sugarloaf Mountain. On the out-and-back course, Powerline in particular is an important setpiece, offering a crucial early separation point in the mass-start field and a tactical launch point for late attacks if riders are still in groups with 20 miles to go.
Instead, riders will start as always in Leadville and take in the early St. Kevin’s climb but instead of wrapping around Turquoise Lake they’ll come back on the north side and wrap around its eastern edge before heading south to rejoin the original course at the Fish Hatchery/Outward Bound checkpoint and aid station.
The out-and-back climb to Colombine Mine, the race’s high point, remains on the course. The adjusted route will be 102 miles [164 km] long – two miles shorter than the original – and feature 9,916 feet [3,016 m] of climbing, down from 11,000 feet [3,350 m] for the traditional route.
“The team has worked closely with the local authorities to develop a revised route that ensures riders can safely take on the historic race while avoiding areas impacted by the Willow Fire,” said Life Time in the email announcing the course change. The organization did not address questions around air quality, cancellation contingencies or changes to its entry deferral program, all of which are still concerns for some racers.
Why Leadville’s course is a major part of its allure
The Leadville 100 takes place in Lake County, CO, a two hour drive away from Denver, at just over 10,000 feet or 3,000 meters above sea level. The original course is 104 mi (167 km) with 11,000 ft (3,350 m) of climbing and a maximum altitude of just over 12,500 feet (3,800 m).
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