USA · MTB

LEADVILLE TRAIL 100 MTB TRAINING PLAN.

Leadville 100 is the definitive high-altitude MTB race — 160km through the Colorado Rockies starting at 3,100m (10,200ft) with 3,800m of climbing and a topout above 3,800m on Columbine Mine. Lottery entry, hard cut-offs, finisher buckle is a career milestone.

160 km·3,810 m climbing·8-12 hours·August

THE OVERVIEW

WHAT THE LEADVILLE 100 ACTUALLY IS

TERRAIN

160km out-and-back through the Colorado Rockies on dirt roads, fire roads, and some technical singletrack. The crux is Columbine Mine — a 9km climb to 3,810m above sea level, the highest point of the day. The Powerline section on the return is fast, rocky, and tyre-popping. Cut-off at the Columbine turnaround (6 hours) is the day's first shaping moment.

WEATHER

Mid-August in Leadville starts near freezing at the 06:30 start (often 0-4°C at 3,100m altitude) and peaks at 25-28°C in the valleys by mid-afternoon, with afternoon thunderstorms a near-certainty above the treeline. The temperature swing across one ride is bigger than at any sea-level event — kit choice is a real problem, not a stylistic one.

FITNESS DEMANDS

WHAT YOU NEED TO ARRIVE WITH.

MINIMUM FTP

3.2 W/kg

to finish, well-fuelled

COMPETITIVE FTP

4.0 W/kg

to ride the day on your terms

ENDURANCE

12-15 hours/week peaking, with a long ride that has built up to 6 hours over rolling terrain and includes at least two sustained 30+ minute climbs. MTB-specific skills are non-negotiable: technical descending, washboard fire roads, rocky singletrack — Leadville is not a road event in disguise. Aim to arrive in Leadville 2 weeks before the race for altitude acclimatisation, or as close as you can get logistically.

WHY THESE NUMBERS MATTER HERE

Leadville is altitude-limited. At sea level your FTP is one number; above 3,000m you'll lose 12-18% of it. 3.2 W/kg sea-level FTP with proper acclimatisation gets you the buckle; 4.0+ W/kg with two-week altitude exposure puts you in the sub-9 hour group. Riders who arrive 48 hours before the race lose more time to altitude than to fitness.

CLIMBING DEMANDS

THE CLIMBS, IN ORDER.

Around 3,810m of climbing across 160km — but the elevation profile is misleading. The numbers say modest; the altitude says brutal. Columbine Mine is a 9km climb topping out at 3,810m above sea level. Sugarloaf and Powerline are short and steep but rideable. The hidden climb is the return-leg headwind out of Twin Lakes and the Powerline punch on tired legs at 9 hours in.

ST KEVIN'S

KM 20

5.6 km·4.8% avg·269 m gain

First sustained climb on dirt road. Sets your altitude pacing — keep heart rate 5-10 bpm below sea-level threshold for the same effort.

SUGARLOAF

KM 30

6.1 km·5.2% avg·317 m gain

Drops onto Powerline on the descent — fast, rocky, do not overcook it on the outbound. You're descending it twice.

COLUMBINE MINE

KM 65 (TURNAROUND)

9 km·7.4% avg·13% max·666 m gain

The race. Tops out at 3,810m above sea level. Pace it as a 60-90 minute aerobic-threshold effort — heart rate runs 8-12 bpm above your sea-level Z3 at the same wattage, and that's normal. Cut-off is 6 hours from race start; if you're not at the turnaround by 12:30, you're done.

POWERLINE (RETURN)

KM 130

1.6 km·12% avg·23% max·198 m gain

Steep, loose, and brutal at 9 hours in. Most amateurs hike a portion of this — that's not weakness, it's fitness management. Save it for here.

EXPECTED FINISH TIMES

WHERE YOU'LL LAND.

Use these bands to set a realistic goal. Pick the band closest to your current fitness — not the one above it. Pacing a band you haven't earned is the fastest way to a back-half blow-up.

FIRST-TIME FINISHER (12-HOUR BUCKLE)

10-12 hours

FTP 2.8-3.2 W/kg sea level, 8-10 hours/week, longest ride 5-6 hours, MTB-specific skills, 1-2 weeks altitude prep.

SUB-12 BUCKLE TARGET

9-11 hours

FTP 3.2-3.7 W/kg sea level, 10-12 hours/week, multiple long rides on technical terrain, 2 weeks altitude prep.

SUB-9 BUCKLE (GOLD)

8-9 hours

FTP 3.7-4.3 W/kg sea level, 12-15 hours/week, structured threshold + VO2 work, racing background, 3+ weeks altitude prep.

TOP CONTENDER

6-8 hours

FTP 4.3+ W/kg sea level, 15-20 hours/week, MTB racing background, lives at altitude or arrives 4+ weeks early.

Ask Roadman about your Leadville 100 target →

THE TRAINING PLAN

HOW LONG TILL YOUR LEADVILLE 100?

Six weeks-out windows, each built around the demands of this course. Pick the one that matches your window today. The framework is free; coaching makes it personal.

16 WEEKS OUT

BASE PHASE

Aerobic foundation. High volume, low intensity. Don't skip this.

12 WEEKS OUT

LATE BASE

Bridge phase. Volume still rules, but structure begins.

8 WEEKS OUT

BUILD PHASE

Structured intensity enters. Threshold + VO2 max work.

4 WEEKS OUT

PEAK PHASE

Event-specific sharpening. Volume drops, quality rises.

2 WEEKS OUT

TAPER

Sharpness is banked. Now shed fatigue.

1 WEEK OUT

RACE WEEK

Don't do anything clever. Eat, sleep, show up.

FUELLING STRATEGY

EAT LIKE THE DAY DEMANDS.

Altitude suppresses appetite — if you wait until you feel hungry you've already lost 60 minutes of fuelling. Force-fuel on a timer: 70-90g carbs/hour, alarm on the head unit if you have to. Crew or the on-course aid stations cover the basics (Twin Lakes is the main resupply both ways) but own-supply between is faster than queueing. Hydration is critical: 750ml-1L/hour with electrolytes once the heat lands, and 500-600ml in the cold opening hour even if you don't feel thirsty. Dry Colorado air dehydrates 30-40% faster than the same temperature at sea level. A caffeine gel before Columbine sharpens the climb; another before Powerline keeps the focus on rocky terrain at 9 hours in.

PACING STRATEGY

RIDE IT IN THE RIGHT ORDER.

Pace Leadville on heart rate, not power — power meters lie at altitude when you're not adapted. Target a heart rate ceiling 5-8 bpm below your sea-level Z3 for the first 4 hours; on Columbine, sit at aerobic threshold and ride the climb in pieces (climb-eat-climb), not in one effort. The descent off Columbine back to Twin Lakes is the day's free recovery — eat, drink, freewheel, do not hammer. The return leg is harder than the outbound: headwinds, tired legs, and Powerline. Pace the run-in to the finish on the singletrack rather than chasing back time on the dirt road sections; falling at 10 hours in is the most common Leadville DNF.

COMMON MISTAKES

DON'T DO THIS.

Patterns we see at the Leadville 100 every year. Each one has a fix that costs nothing — except the discipline to actually use it on the day.

MISTAKE

Arriving less than 2 weeks before the race

FIX

If you cannot arrive 2 weeks early, arrive 36 hours before — splitting the difference is the worst option. The acute mountain-sickness window peaks day 2-4 of altitude exposure. Get there early enough to adapt, or late enough that you race before you feel it.

MISTAKE

Racing the paved start road and blowing up at altitude

FIX

The first 5km is downhill paved, then a 6km dirt-road climb. The lead group is gone within 10km — let them go. Riding at sea-level wattage in the first hour at 3,100m altitude burns matches you cannot get back.

MISTAKE

Running XC race tyres

FIX

2.3-2.4" tyres with MaxxTerra or Enduro casings (Maxxis Rekon, Vittoria Mezcal, Continental Race King ProTection). XC race tyres last 80km on Leadville rocks and then you walk. Casing weight is the single biggest insurance you can buy.

ASK ROADMAN

GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THE LEADVILLE 100?

The Leadville 100 doesn't have a predictor course yet. Ask Roadman directly — Anthony reads every question and replies with event-specific advice.

Ask Roadman

FAQ

LEADVILLE 100 TRAINING, ANSWERED.

What FTP do I need for the Leadville Trail 100?

Leadville is altitude-limited. At sea level your FTP is one number; above 3,000m you'll lose 12-18% of it. 3.2 W/kg sea-level FTP with proper acclimatisation gets you the buckle; 4.0+ W/kg with two-week altitude exposure puts you in the sub-9 hour group. Riders who arrive 48 hours before the race lose more time to altitude than to fitness. A practical floor is 3.2 W/kg to finish; 4.0 W/kg to ride competitively.

How long should I train for the Leadville Trail 100?

Most riders benefit from 12-16 weeks of structured preparation. 12-15 hours/week peaking, with a long ride that has built up to 6 hours over rolling terrain and includes at least two sustained 30+ minute climbs. MTB-specific skills are non-negotiable: technical descending, washboard fire roads, rocky singletrack — Leadville is not a road event in disguise. Aim to arrive in Leadville 2 weeks before the race for altitude acclimatisation, or as close as you can get logistically. If you have less time, the 8-week and 4-week plans still produce a meaningful result on the right starting fitness.

What's the typical finish time for the Leadville Trail 100?

Amateur finishers cover the full range. First-time finisher (12-hour buckle): 10-12 hours; Sub-12 buckle target: 9-11 hours; Sub-9 buckle (gold): 8-9 hours; Top contender: 6-8 hours. The difference between bands is climbing fitness and fuelling discipline more than flat speed.

What's the biggest mistake riders make at the Leadville Trail 100?

Arriving less than 2 weeks before the race. Fix: If you cannot arrive 2 weeks early, arrive 36 hours before — splitting the difference is the worst option. The acute mountain-sickness window peaks day 2-4 of altitude exposure. Get there early enough to adapt, or late enough that you race before you feel it.

How should I pace the Leadville Trail 100?

Pace Leadville on heart rate, not power — power meters lie at altitude when you're not adapted. Target a heart rate ceiling 5-8 bpm below your sea-level Z3 for the first 4 hours; on Columbine, sit at aerobic threshold and ride the climb in pieces (climb-eat-climb), not in one effort. The descent off Columbine back to Twin Lakes is the day's free recovery — eat, drink, freewheel, do not hammer. The return leg is harder than the outbound: headwinds, tired legs, and Powerline. Pace the run-in to the finish on the singletrack rather than chasing back time on the dirt road sections; falling at 10 hours in is the most common Leadville DNF.

When does the Leadville Trail 100 take place?

The Leadville Trail 100 typically runs in August. Count back from your event date and pick the weeks-out plan that matches your window.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

PLAN MADE FOR YOU, NOT FOR THE AVERAGE.

The framework here gets you in the right territory. Roadman coaching builds it around your FTP, your week, your weeks remaining, and your delivery via TrainingPeaks.

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