Leadville 100 MTB

For a mountain biker preparing for the Leadville Trail 100 (LT100), weekly ride times will vary depending on their current fitness level, training phase, and experience. However, here's a general breakdown of weekly ride hours for different phases of LT100 training.

Base Training Phase (Off-Season/Winter)

  • Goal: Build endurance and aerobic base.

  • Weekly ride time: 6–10 hours

    • Includes mostly Zone 2 efforts, with a focus on low-intensity, long rides.

Build Phase (Spring/Early Summer)

  • Goal: Develop climbing ability, endurance, and threshold power.

  • Weekly ride time: 8–12 hours

    • Example:

      • 1 long ride: 4–6 hours on weekends, mimicking race conditions (e.g., sustained climbs, altitude if possible).

      • 2 interval sessions: Shorter rides (1 hour to 90 mins) with hill intervals or tempo work.

      • Recovery rides: 1–2 sessions of easy spinning for 1–1.5 hours.

Peak Phase (6–8 Weeks Before Race Day)

  • Goal: Simulate race intensity and duration.

  • Weekly ride time: 10–15 hours

    • Example:

      • 1 long ride: 6–8 hours mimicking the LT100 course profile.

      • Race simulations: 2–3 shorter rides (2–3 hours) at tempo or threshold effort, practicing nutrition and hydration strategies.

      • Recovery: 1–2 easy rides (1–1.5 hours).

Taper Phase (2–3 Weeks Before the Race)

  • Goal: Reduce volume while maintaining intensity.

  • Weekly ride time: 6–8 hours

    • Focus on shorter rides with a mix of easy efforts and some race-paced intervals.

The hardest part of the Leadville Trail 100 MTB course is often debated, but most riders agree on two sections:

1. Powerline Climb (Outbound and Return)

  • Return Powerline (Mile ~80): This is widely considered the toughest part. After 80 miles of riding, you face a brutally steep climb with sections of loose dirt, rocks, and ruts. Many riders are forced to hike-a-bike here, especially near the top. The fatigue from the day and the mental challenge make it a true test of grit.

2. Columbine Climb (Outbound)

  • The 10-mile climb to 12,424 feet is relentless, with the final 3 miles above the tree line featuring loose, rocky terrain. The thin air at altitude adds to the difficulty, even for well-conditioned riders.

Both climbs are grueling for different reasons—Columbine for its length and elevation gain, and Powerline for its steepness and late placement in the race. Most finishers agree that mental toughness is just as important as physical conditioning to get through these sections!

POWERLINE

The Powerline climb at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race is notorious for being steep, long, and technical. The average watts/kg required to climb Powerline depends on fitness, weight, and pacing strategy, but we can estimate based on race data:

  1. Elite Riders:

    • Typically sustain 4.0–5.0+ watts/kg on this climb.

    • These riders may push harder bursts but are efficient due to their fitness and lower body weight.

  2. Competitive Finishers (Sub-9-Hour Goal):

    • Generally average 3.5–4.5 watts/kg on Powerline.

    • These riders are strong but conserve energy for the rest of the race.

  3. Finishers (Under 12 Hours):

    • Typically maintain 2.5–3.5 watts/kg depending on their pacing and fatigue levels.