Sports

Leadville Trail 100: Lance Armstrong Gears up for Record Time

by armchairsports | August 13, 2009 at 06:46 pm

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UPDATE: Lance Armstrong has won the Leadville Trail 100 in 6:28:50, a record time despite finishing on a flat tire. Last year's winner and 7-time champ Dave Wiens finished in 6:57.

After a successful return to Pro Cycling including a podium finish at this year's Tour de France, Lance Armstrong is gearing up for a record time at the Leadville Trail 100, an epic mountain bike race in Colorado. Last year Armstrong's appearance at the race was extra fuel on the comeback fire and brought much attention to the race. There will be even more competition this year, in addition to the king of the event Dave Wiens, who beat Lance last year for his 7th win at the event, several top pros will be attending. There is speculation that the field has been stacked for a quick start to bring the top racers in in record time.

Lance Armstrong is hoping a strong field will help deliver him to a victory in record time at this Saturday's Leadville Trail 100 in Colorado.

The Astana rider told VeloNews Thursday that while he hasn't recruited a team for the race, his sponsor Trek has sent a squad to Leadville, including former pro Travis Brown. Armstrong is looking to them and to other top riders to drive the pace in the first 45 miles or so of the out-and-back course.

First run in 1994 the Leadville 100 MTB is known as the "Race Across the Sky" and starts August 15th at 6:30am MST.

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. Major climbs include 3000+ ft from miles 40-50 to the Columbine mine, Powerline at mile 80, and St Kevins at mile 86. Total elevation change is roughly 14,000 feet (4,300 m).

A sub six-hour time would beat the current record, set by Wiens last year, by nearly 45 minutes. Armstrong denies that he has specifically recruited anyone to set the pace, but does make some rumblings about the potential of being the first to break the milestone.

"To be honest, I haven't actively recruited anybody," to help set the pace, Armstrong said. "But Trek has riders who will be here ... if Trek wants to put fast riders in the race, it's not bad for me."

"If you have a group of guys who can work together — and that's a big if — we could go under six hours."

Of course local favorite Dave Wiens has his own supporters.