Leadville Trail 100 MTB

Extreme

Date

2026-08-15

Location

Leadville, Colorado, United States

Distance

160 km

Elevation

3700m

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▌ RIDER INTEL DOSSIER

ID: LEADVILLE-TRAIL-100-MTB

GR SCORE

/ 100

TIER 1

~/dossier/leadville-trail-100-mtb $ cat briefing.md

▌ The Race Across the Sky. 100 miles starting at 10,200 ft.

Ken Chlouber’s legendary Colorado MTB classic — high altitude, iconic climbs, and a sub-9-hour buckle that has become a generational benchmark.

EFFORT60/80

EXPER.54/70

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15 SCORING DIMENSIONS

· Inside the rating

$ ./radar --plot

LEADVILLE TRAIL 100 MTB

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EFFORT MATRIX

· Physical demands · 8 vectors

$ ./bench --effort

LENGTH08/10

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08/10160 km / 100 mi out-and-back

160 km / 100 mi out-and-back

CLIMBING09/10

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09/10~3,700 m, including the legendary Columbine Mine

~3,700 m, including the legendary Columbine Mine

ALTITUDE10/10

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10/10Start at 3,100 m, summit Columbine at 3,840 m

Start at 3,100 m, summit Columbine at 3,840 m

DURABILITY09/10

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09/107-12 hr at altitude — body and lungs both punished

7-12 hr at altitude — body and lungs both punished

TECHNICALITY05/10

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05/10Mostly fire road; Powerline descent is the technical test

Mostly fire road; Powerline descent is the technical test

HEAT04/10

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04/10August Leadville: 15-22 °C high, 0-5 °C dawn

August Leadville: 15-22 °C high, 0-5 °C dawn

COLD06/10

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06/10Cold start, possible afternoon thunderstorms

Cold start, possible afternoon thunderstorms

RACE PRESSURE09/10

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09/10Pro field, 2,000+ riders, the buckle stakes are real

Pro field, 2,000+ riders, the buckle stakes are real

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EXPERIENCE MATRIX

· Race quality · 7 vectors

$ ./bench --experience

ADVENTURE08/10

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08/10Race week in Leadville is a pilgrimage

Race week in Leadville is a pilgrimage

SCENERY09/10

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09/10Mt. Massive, Mt. Elbert, Twin Lakes, alpine meadows

Mt. Massive, Mt. Elbert, Twin Lakes, alpine meadows

ORGANIZATION09/10

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09/10Life Time production with deep history

Life Time production with deep history

VALUE06/10

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06/10Premium entry, Leadville lodging premium during race week

Premium entry, Leadville lodging premium during race week

COMMUNITY09/10

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09/10Leadville town turns out for the race

Leadville town turns out for the race

ACCESSIBILITY04/10

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04/10Lottery + qualifier system; hard to get in

Lottery + qualifier system; hard to get in

FIELD DEPTH09/10

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09/10Pros, ex-roadies, and 2,000 ambitious amateurs

Pros, ex-roadies, and 2,000 ambitious amateurs

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GREEN FLAGS

$ ./pros

[+]A genuine American MTB classic
[+]Sub-9-hr "Big Buckle" is a generational target
[+]Iconic course: Columbine Mine, Powerline, Twin Lakes
[+]Leadville town fully behind the race
[+]Strong volunteer and aid station network
[+]Multiple ways in: lottery, qualifier races, charity

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RED FLAGS

$ ./cons

[!]Lottery / qualifier entry — hard ticket
[!]Altitude (3,100-3,840 m) flattens unacclimated riders
[!]Limited Leadville lodging; race week prices spike
[!]Powerline descent claims crashes every year
[!]Afternoon thunderstorms and hail possible above timberline

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RIDER FIT

· Match by archetype

$ match-rider --types

Altitude LoverPRIME · 10/10

The defining demand — acclimated riders win it

ClimberPRIME · 9/10

Columbine Mine is a 12-mile climb

Endurance MulePRIME · 9/10

Sub-9-hr buckle requires deep tempo

Skill RiderGOOD · 6/10

Powerline descent rewards bike handling

Privateer ProPRIME · 8/10

Pro field, marquee event

Adventure TouristGOOD · 6/10

Pair with Aspen / Vail trip

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⚡ SIGNATURE CHALLENGE

Powerline on the way back

A loose, rutted, 1.5-mile climb at 70 miles in, after Columbine has emptied your legs. Most riders walk parts. The riders chasing sub-9 push through and pay for it.

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TIRE INTEL

· Setup recommendation

$ rubber --recommend

WIDTH

2.2-2.4" MTB

PRESSURE

20-26 psi

PATTERN

Fast-rolling MTB tread

Mostly fire road and double-track means you can run a fast-rolling MTB tire. Most finishers run 2.2" with reinforced casings; tubeless is mandatory in spirit.

▶ TOP PICKS

1.Maxxis Ikon 2.2"[MTB]— The Leadville standard — fast, durable, predictable

2.Vittoria Mezcal 2.25"[MTB]— Lightweight option for sub-9 hr riders

3.Schwalbe Thunder Burt 2.25"[MTB]— Race-day rolling speed

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WEATHER PLAYBOOK

· What the sky throws at you

$ forecast --race

Mid-August Leadville: dawn near freezing, daytime highs 18-22 °C, afternoon thunderstorms common above timberline. Pack a packable shell and arm warmers for the start.

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