Leadville Trail 100 2025: Live Stream, Route Changes & Top Contenders for the Legendary 100-Miler

The 31st edition of the Leadville Trail 100 MTB rolls out of downtown Leadville, Colorado, at 6 a.m. (MST) this Saturday, 9 August 2025, and every indicator suggests the “Race Across the Sky” will be one for the record books. For the 1,700-plus athletes who secured a coveted buckle, the task is unchanged: conquer 105 miles of high-altitude Rocky Mountain terrain, starting at 10,152 ft, climbing to 12,424 ft at the Columbine Mine turnaround, and racking up roughly 12,480 ft of cumulative elevation gain. But 2025 brings several firsts that make this year’s Leadville 100 impossible to ignore. Live-stream debut and bigger prize purse Life Time, the event owner, is broadcasting the full race live for the first time. Coverage begins at 5:45 a.m. on the Life Time Grand Prix YouTube channel and inside the Life Time app, with GPS tracking for the elite fields and a finish-line camera running all day. As the third stop in the six-round Life Time Grand Prix off-road series, riders will battle not only for the iconic silver and big-gold belt buckles but also for points toward the series’ $380,000 overall purse. Who to watch on the rugged out-and-back The race organization has published an “Elite Field Start List” featuring Olympians, world champions, past Leadville winners and breakout gravel stars set to clash on the dirt and fire roads of Lake County. Expect the front group to average well over 17 mph on the flats while fighting hypoxia on the Powerline and Sugarloaf ascents. Sub-6-hour times are possible if weather cooperates, but afternoon storms often decide podium positions. Local pride runs deep While the pros chase course records, 44 riders from neighboring Eagle County alone will line up, illustrating the event’s grassroots magnetism. Among them are age-group XTERRA world champion Michael Dorr, aiming to break eight hours, and Ron Gruber, racing his eighth Leadville 100 alongside his 26-year-old son Robby for the first time. Their stories echo the race’s ethos: ordinary people doing extraordinary things at altitude. Course keys and spectator hot-spots • Start to St. Kevin’s: Fast, chilly roll-out—dress for 40 °F. • Sugarloaf & Powerline: First major climb and the notorious technical descent; position early. • Twin Lakes Dam: Prime spectator hub with full-service aid station and live drone coverage. • Columbine Mine: The oxygen-starved turnaround at 12,424 ft; pace conservatively, save watts for the descent. • The Boulevard: Final dirt slog back into town; a late cramp here can cost the coveted sub-9-hour big belt buckle. How to follow the action—and plan your own attempt Fans can track splits and finish times in real-time via Enabled Tracking on race day, then relive highlights on YouTube. If the broadcast ignites your own bucket-list ambition, remember that entry is via a January lottery or by earning a “coin” at one of ten Life Time qualifier races across North America. Focus on heat-rate instead of pace during altitude training blocks, and practice fueling every 30–40 minutes to avoid the Powerline bonk commonly reported by first-timers. Weather outlook and gear trends Leadville’s monsoon season can generate afternoon lightning, so lightweight rain shells will fill pockets alongside modern nutrition mixes. Watch for flat-bar bikes running integrated aero extensions and drop-bar hardtails—setup choices that sparked debate after last year’s gravel-bike podium sweep. Bottom line Whether you’re chasing a golden buckle, scouting next year’s lottery, or streaming with coffee from sea level, the Leadville Trail 100 MTB 2025 promises altitude drama, breakthrough performances, and small-town Colorado grit on full display. Tune in, cheer loud, and breathe deep—just not as deep as the riders topping out above 12,000 feet.