Leadville 100 2009
08-10-09, 11:36 AM
#27
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08-10-09, 11:39 AM
#28
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Let's drop that in this thread. Start a new one if you think it's worthy.
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08-10-09, 11:51 AM
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Lance is in much better shape than when he did this race last year. I have to agree that he is the favorite. According to the leadville website there is a live feed on race day for $5.95. https://www.leadvilletrail100.com/
08-10-09, 02:18 PM
#30
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So who is this Weins guy? Is he a big name in mountain biking, or is this the one race he really does?
08-10-09, 03:01 PM
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I predict Armstrong wins; but not without drama.
08-10-09, 06:07 PM
#32
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Agree, lets also keep the personal sniping out please.
08-10-09, 07:30 PM
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It's difficult to compare difficulty. If you're riding up Mt Ventoux you're expending every bit of energy and fitness you have. The same goes for something like this. People in these sorts of races don't leave much in reserves, so I'd say they're about the same. They may be different sorts of races, but the end effort is probably about the same.
Wiens won last year with Lance back after only a few weeks. I'd say Lance is the favorite, but if he's using a team for the first stretch, he won't be able to once it starts getting rough. 45 minutes is a lot. I think it's a psych job... I think 15 minutes is quite possible, but I highly doubt 45.
Wiens won last year with Lance back after only a few weeks. I'd say Lance is the favorite, but if he's using a team for the first stretch, he won't be able to once it starts getting rough. 45 minutes is a lot. I think it's a psych job... I think 15 minutes is quite possible, but I highly doubt 45.
I won't argue TDF as a whole is tougher then Leadville, but I will still argue that Leadville is tougher than any single stage in the tour.
08-10-09, 07:49 PM
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Have you ridden both at race pace? Hard to say without doing that.
Richard
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08-10-09, 07:59 PM
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Well I've never played ping pong at Olympic pace either, but I could probably still conclude that Leadville is physically harder than Olympic ping pong. I mean, let's be realistic, mountain biking overall is tougher than road biking..
- Denis
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08-10-09, 08:38 PM
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He is a big name in mountain biking. More notably, he was decades ago. He is 45. These days, he does some other races, but this is the one race he utterly dominates. He has won it six years in a row, including recent victories over Landis and Armstrong.
I predict Armstrong wins; but not without drama.
I predict Armstrong wins; but not without drama.
This race typically takes about an hour longer for the fastest guys to finish than the big multi-mountain TDF stages. So I'm tempted to think that it is a little bit tougher than the biggest mountain stages of the TDF if you are going to be riding it at a world class pace. I'm really curious to see how close to six hours they can get. It took several years for anyone to break the 7 hour time mark.
08-10-09, 10:04 PM
#37
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08-10-09, 10:31 PM
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Not only has he won it six years in a row, but Landis and Armstrong are the only guys to even come close to him in this race. Many top pro mountain bike racers have not even finished within 15-30 minutes of Wiens best times.
This race typically takes about an hour longer for the fastest guys to finish than the big multi-mountain TDF stages. So I'm tempted to think that it is a little bit tougher than the biggest mountain stages of the TDF if you are going to be riding it at a world class pace. I'm really curious to see how close to six hours they can get. It took several years for anyone to break the 7 hour time mark.
This race typically takes about an hour longer for the fastest guys to finish than the big multi-mountain TDF stages. So I'm tempted to think that it is a little bit tougher than the biggest mountain stages of the TDF if you are going to be riding it at a world class pace. I'm really curious to see how close to six hours they can get. It took several years for anyone to break the 7 hour time mark.
08-11-09, 06:50 AM
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My opinion that Leadville, being a tough MB course beats up and jars the body more than any stage in the TdF. I don't see anyone questioning that. However, you can't really say energy expended (ie, tough), is any more than a TdF stage. Sure, the TdF stages are on smooth roads, but I also haven't heard of too many MB'ers biking for 3 weeks and then on the final stage ride along easily for 4 hours and then maintain 30 mph for the last hour of a 3 week race. I'm not saying Leadville as a single-stage MB race is an easy race, or that it doesn't beat you up, I'm just saying energy expended isn't going to be any more than a strong TdF stage... any tough TdF stage.
08-11-09, 06:52 AM
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The plus on this Leadville race, I think it's getting far more interest this year in general. I admit I'm not a year-round following of the race, but the name has been popping up far more this year, it seems. Exposure like that is healthy I think for the sport.
08-11-09, 07:13 AM
#42
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Let's push the Levi/LA/Weins stuff to the side for a bit.
Now that the race has garnered more attention, will the current mountain bike stars start to contest it?
Or is it considered a non-MTB race and more of a lungs test?
Now that the race has garnered more attention, will the current mountain bike stars start to contest it?
Or is it considered a non-MTB race and more of a lungs test?
08-11-09, 08:32 AM
#45
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You guys realize there are some professional road races going on soon?
Tour of Ireland, Benelux, and that little thing in Spain?
Tour of Ireland, Benelux, and that little thing in Spain?
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08-11-09, 09:32 AM
#47
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08-11-09, 09:44 AM
#48
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Is Levi still going to ride Leadville? I would think being on a MTB in that terrain for 6 hours would be terribly bad for his wrist so soon after he broke it?
08-11-09, 10:31 AM
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Does anyone know if this is going to be televised? I know you can purchase a ticket to view it via the Leadville website for 6 dollars, but why not wait and watch it HD a bit later.