Bicycle Race Victory: Keegan Swenson Secures Fifth Consecutive Win in Leadville Trail 100 MTB Elite Men's Category
Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB: Keegan Swenson Secures Fifth Consecutive Title
The 2025 edition of the Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik, dubbed the "race across the sky," took place under ideal conditions on the 6th of July, MDT. The high-elevation 100-mile endurance race, held annually in Leadville, Colorado, attracted top elite cyclists to compete on a challenging course that included the iconic Columbine climb.
In the men's race, the competition was fierce from the start. Four-time defending champion Keegan Swenson (Santa Cruz Bicycles), Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro), and John Gaston (Specialized) set a pace at the front 20 minutes into the contest, creating an advantage of nearly 45 seconds on a chase group of five riders. Swenson, Pellaud, and Gaston charged on, with Swenson creating a 10-second gap to Pellaud on the lower slopes of Columbine Mine.
Swenson then made his move, taking the lead on the steep Columbine ascent and maintaining a solo breakaway for over 50 miles. He crossed the finish line in a time of 5 hours, 45 minutes, and 35 seconds, securing his fifth consecutive title. Gaston, a three-time podium finisher at Leadville 100, had crashed in the Twin Lakes aid station but reconnected with Pellaud on the ascent. He finished as runner-up, 15 minutes and 16 seconds behind Swenson. Pellaud secured third place, 7 minutes and 30 seconds behind the winner.
On the women's side, Kate Courtney made a sensational debut at Leadville by setting a new women's course record of 6:48:55, breaking a ten-year-old record set by Annika Langvad by over 10 minutes. Courtney rode solo for more than half the race, including the demanding Columbia climb, and held off defending champion Melisa Rollins, who finished second with a sub-seven-hour time of 6:59:16 — the second-best ever. Cecily Decker moved into third after Lauren Stephens was disqualified for taking aid outside designated crew zones.
The event garnered attention for its competitive fields and live streaming innovation, allowing fans worldwide to watch the race in real time. Swenson's ongoing dominance in the men's field and Courtney's impressive debut have firmly established them as top contenders in endurance mountain biking.
Key Performances
Men's Category
- Keegan Swenson - 1st, 5:45:35
- John Gaston - 2nd, +15:16
- Simon Pellaud - 3rd, +7:30
Women's Category
- Kate Courtney - 1st, 6:48:55 (record)
- Melisa Rollins - 2nd, 6:59:16
- Cecily Decker - 3rd
This year, Swenson was 2 minutes and 6 seconds short of the course record he set two years ago at 5:43:29. Pellaud moved to sole second place in the Life Time Grand Prix standings after his second-place finish at Leadville 100. Torbjørn Røed was third in the Life Time Grand Prix standings after posting fourth place at Leadville 100.
In the men's category, Keegan Swenson secured his fifth consecutive title in the Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB, beating John Gaston by 15 minutes and 16 seconds, while Simon Pellaud followed in third place, 7 minutes and 30 seconds behind the winner. In the women's category, Kate Courtney made a sensational debut, setting a new women's course record of 6:48:55 and establishing herself as a top contender in endurance mountain biking.
