Rider Dies During Leadville 100 MTB Race
The Colorado Sun first reported the incident after confirmation from race officials.
On Saturday, August 14, a cyclist died while competing in the Leadville 100. The death was announced during the race awards ceremony on Sunday, where athletes observed a moment of silence.
Details of the incident have yet to be released. According to the Sun, several race participants have said that the male rider died during a descent, possibly from a high-speed crash. Both the Lake County Sherriff’s Office and a spokesperson for the race declined the outlet’s requests for comments. The spokesperson declined “out of respect for the participant.”
The Leadville 100 Race Series’ lead organization, Life Time, sent the following statement to the Sun: “The entire Leadville family is deeply saddened by the passing of an athlete. This athlete embodied the spirit of Leadville, and our thoughts and sympathies are with their loved ones at this difficult time.”
The famed MTB race covers a grueling 12,000 feet of elevation change over the 100-mile route. This latest incident marks the second-ever death of a competitor during the Leadville 100 since the race’s 1983 inception. It follows the passing of 55-year-old Scott Ellis, who succumbed to an apparent heart attack while riding in 2015.
This is a developing story, and GearJunkie will continue to report details as they emerge.
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