Star-studded roster set to battle it out at the Race Across the Sky
The Life Time Grand Prix returns to Leadville, Colorado, on August 15 for the Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik. Riders are set to battle it out at the third round of the Series on an updated course and now joined by the nine Wild Card selections (five men and four women).
Sofía Gómez Villafañe has established dominance in the opening rounds of this year’s Life Time Grand Prix, claiming back-to-back victories to retain the overall Series lead. Cecily Decker claimed third place in a thrilling five-up sprint finish at the Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200 presented by Shimano, and now sits second on the Grand Prix leaderboard. In her debut campaign, Rosa Klöser has strung together consistent performances across the opening two events, and is currently holding third place in the overall standings.
The men’s field has delivered dynamic tactical battles, with Keegan Swenson and Matthew Beers sharing the top spot. Swenson kicked off the Series by capturing second place overall at the Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel, but a first place Series finish at UNBOUND Gravel 200 for Beers has left the pair with 54 points each. Sitting in third place overall, Alexey Vermeulen remains in the title hunt after strong performances in both Monterey and Emporia.
Leader Board
Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik Leaderboard
While Series points are on the line, the battle for the win spans far beyond the overall standings. A stacked pro field, includes former and current WorldTour riders Lachlan Morton, Quinn Simmons and Michael Woods in the elite men’s field and Olympian Anna Gibson and former Grand Prix athletes Ellen Campbell and Michaela Thompson in the women’s.The fight for victory is on as non-Life Time Grand Prix riders head to Colorado, determined to challenge the Series leaders.
Start List for Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik
Start List for Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik
Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB Course Overview
The Race Across the Sky returns for its 32nd edition, with a modified route due to the ongoing Willow Fire in the area. Life Time worked closely with local authorities to develop a revised version that ensures riders can safely take on the historic race.
Spanning 101.3 miles and 9,897 feet of elevation, athletes will start on Harrison Avenue as usual and tackle St. Kevin’s climb. To bypass areas affected by the Willow Fire, the course then loops east around Turquoise Lake before rejoining the traditional route at the bottom of the Powerline descent. From there, riders will hit the Outward Bound aid station at mile 22.7, conquer the iconic Columbine climb, and complete the famous out-and-back journey into town.
Course Preview
Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik Course PreviewLive Coverage
Just as with last year, bringing the action to viewers around the world has proven to grow enthusiasm for the sport and deepen the connection between athletes and fans. This year’s race will be easier to follow than ever before, whether in person or tuning in from afar.
Starting at 12:00 PM MDT on Friday, August 14, THE LEADOUT, the Life Time Grand Prix Pre-Race Show, will air live from Leadville, Colorado, on the Life Time Grand Prix YouTube channel.
Race day coverage will begin at 5:45 AM MDT on the Life Time Grand Prix YouTube channel on Saturday, August 15, with live, on-course video updates for the women’s and men’s races also being shared on the official Life Time Grand Prix and Leadville Race Series Instagram pages, respectively.
A Look Back at 2025
The 2025 edition of Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB delivered historic performances, blistering course records, and major shakeups in the Life Time Grand Prix standings.
In the women’s race, Kate Courtney made history by smashing the women’s record time by over 10 minutes in her race debut. Melisa Rollins claimed the top Life Time Grand Prix finish (and 2nd place overall), becoming only the third woman ever to break the seven-hour barrier and moving up to third overall in the Series. She was followed by Cecily Decker, who took second place among Life Time Grand Prix athletes (third overall), pushing her to the top of the women’s standings and taking the lead from Sofía Gómez Villafañe, who secured fourth on the day.
In the men’s race, Keegan Swenson led the Life Time Grand Prix field with his fifth consecutive victory in Leadville. John Gaston, who was not part of the Life Time Grand Prix took home second and Simon Pellaud earned third place (second among the Series contenders). Torbjørn Andre Røed claimed the third Grand Prix spot (fourth overall) after winning a sprint finish against Payson McElveen.
Wild Card & U23s
The final spots in the men’s and women’s fields have now been filled following the completion of Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel and Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200. Originally, six Life Time Grand Prix places were up for grabs, but additional spots opened up in both categories after Sarah Sturm announced her pregnancy, and Marc Pritzen and Felix Stehli withdrew from the Series.
Riders to Watch
Cecily Decker, USA
Currently ranked second in the Series, Cecily Decker is making a statement heading into Leadville. Her form was on full display at the Stage Race, where she dominated the women’s field by winning every stage to take the top spot on the podium. Proving herself against the entire field, Decker also captured second place overall, finishing just three minutes behind the top male rider. Following a 3rd place finish at last year’s race, Decker remains a top contender in the Race Across the Sky.
Simon Pellaud, Switzerland
Bringing a WorldTour engine to off-road racing, Simon Pellaud has established himself as a force to be reckoned with. In his 2025 race debut, Pellaud proved his power transfers seamlessly to mountain biking, taking a third-place overall finish at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB. Conquering the race’s extreme altitude and brutal high-country terrain on his first attempt, Pellaud heads into this year’s race as a rider to watch. He currently sits in seventh in the Series standings, but could shake things up in Colorado.
Melisa Rollins, USA
Following a turbulent start to the 2026 Life Time Grand Prix, Melisa Rollins arrives in Leadville with a point to prove. The 2024 champion and only the second woman to achieve a sub-seven-hour course time following a second-place race finish in 2025. Rollins has battled through injuries early this season, but she heads into “The Race Across the Sky” eyeing a statement victory and on the course where she knows she can perform at her very best.
Keegan Swenson, USA
As a three-time Life Time Grand Prix champion and the Leadville Trail 100 MTB course record holder (5:43:31), Keegan Swenson enters Leadville as a key rider to watch. His 2026 campaign has already been a masterclass, both in skill and sportsmanship, opening with a second-place sprint finish at the Sea Otter Classic before selflessly surrendering his rear wheel to teammate Mads Würtz Schmidt at UNBOUND Gravel. Returning to high altitude, Swenson remains the ultimate benchmark for the field in Colorado.
