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Lance to race Leadville 100
The tune-up is done. Now Lance Armstrong can focus on the really tough race — the Leadville 100.
He’ll trade skinny tires for knobby ones for the grueling 100-mile, out-and-back sweat fest.
The race starts in Leadville, Co., elevation 10,200 feet, at 6:30 a.m. Aug. 15. It features steep climbs, serious descents and 14,000 feet of elevation gain.
Seven-time Tour de France champion Armstrong raced it last year, finishing second to six-time Leadville 100 champion Dave Weins by about 2 minutes. Cycling coach Chris Carmichael says Armstrong will race again this year, and I’m betting he’ll have fire in his belly this time. (Read more here.)
Last year, Wiens finished in 6:45:45; Armstrong finished in 6:47:41. The third place finisher was more than 30 minutes back.
Armstrong’s not the only Austin cyclist who’ll be racing. Hill Abell, owner of Bicycle Sport Shop, is planning to compete. His goal is a little more human: He wants to finish in a very respectable 10 hours. Check Monday’s paper for a feature about Abell, who’s done a lot for the Central Texas mountain biking scene.
Good luck!
Learn more iabout the Leadville 100 here.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment Categories: cycling
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By Ob Wheeler
August 2, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this
Go Lance! The elevation “gain” is not 14,000 feet. It starts at 10,000 feet so the “gain” is 4000, which is still pretty FREAKING incredible. Good luck to all!
By CO2creator
August 3, 2009 10:49 AM | Link to this
Dave Weins is a retired mountain biker in his 40s with a full time job and still dominates the this race. Now want to talk about something impressive how about the Leadville 100 running race?
By Monica
August 3, 2009 1:46 PM | Link to this
I’ll be there for the Leadville 100 with my guy! Will keep an eye out for those two.
By VA Biker
August 3, 2009 3:22 PM | Link to this
Ob Wheeler, it is 14,000’ NET elevation gain. It is a 4,000’ ABSOLUTE elevation gain. After you go down, you go back up. All of the “up” counts as net elevation gain.