Keegan Swenson has won another Leadville 100. This is a sixth Leadville title for the dominant U.S. racer (and current XC Marathon world champion), matching the famous record set by David Wiens in the early 2000s. But, after years of setting course records, Swenson’s history-matching win didn’t come easy.
On the women’s side, Melissa Rollins took a solid win as the only woman to break six hours on the widlfire-altered Leadville course.
Michael Woods, racing in his first Leadville 100 (and first mountain bike race) lead the Canadian effort in Colorado.
Women’s Leadville 100: Rollins rolls away with the win
In the women’s race, U.S. XC Marathon national champion Melissa Rollins (Liv Racing) rolled away with the win, but it was far from uncontested.
Cecily Decker and Sarah Lange were the early protagonists, taking off in the opening miles of the 101.3 mile course and quickly building a minute advantage. That partnership lasted until somewhere between Powerline and the start of the Columbine climb, when Decker took off solo. She held a one-minute advange to Lange with Rollins and Laren Stephens chasing around 2:40 back.
Somewhere in there, Rollins bridged up to join with Decker. The XCM national champ then went solo, finnishing over three and a half minutes ahead of second place.
Decker’s aggressive racing was rewarded with second place while Lauren Stephens rounds out the podium in third.
With Life Time and Leadville regular Haley Smith busy with school obligations, there were no Canadians near the front of the women’s field.
Men’s Leadville: 100 A much hyped showdown, an unexpected sprint finish
Quinn Simmons, a late announcement who quickly picked up hype as a potential wildcard to upend Swenson’s dominance. Having finished second in his first appearance and now having the experience of a WorldTour pro hot off a strong showing at the Tour de France, the LIDL-Trek racer was touted as a potential winner. Simmons ended up rolling across the line in ninth, at 5:29:16. That shows just how far the endurance scene in North America has progressed in the last few years.
Instead, it was an ascendant Matt Wilson (Scott/Shimano) who pushed Swenson to a sprint finish in Colorado. Both riders finished in 5:20:26, but Swenson was able to gain position going into the final finish straight, sitting on Wilson’s wheel until launching his sprint within throwing distance of the finish line.
Michael Woods is racing Leadville 100 on a 32″ prototype (then… worlds)
Wilson, from New Zealand continues to impress, steadily moving up the results sheet over the last couple of years. He once finished second at BC Bike Race, too. He gained more notoriety recently for winning the Tusla Tough pro criterium on his Scott gravel bike. Pushing Swenson to a sprint is something only a handful of riders have managed over the last few years. It won’t be long until we sweet Wilson taking the top step at a major gravel event.
Bradyn Lange (Canyon/DT Swiss) rounds out the podium, taking third ahead of John Gaston (Strafe-Specialized), the other two riders who survived in the lead group with Swenson and Wilson.
Michael Woods training on Ventum’s prototype 32″ cross country bike ahead of Leadville 100.
Canadians in Colorado
Michael Woods fared impressively well for his debut at Leadville, which is his first mountain bike race. The Canadian Grand Tour stage winner rode his prototype 32″ Ventum to 14th, finishing in 5:35:12. That put him as the top Canuck in the field. Woods’s Ventum teammate Emma Langley also finished 14th on her 32″ prototype, in a symmetrical debut for the big wheels at Leadville.
Andrew L’Esperance followed a few spots in 18th, finishing in 5:39.52.
Oskar Stack-Michasiw (Sask.) finished second in the under-23 race, and 29th overall, continuing his strong run for that overall title.