Kate Courtney shatters the record and Keegan Swenson earns his fifth victory at Leadville Trail 100 MTB

The 31st edition of the Leadville Trail 100 MTB did not disappoint. American Keegan Swenson extended his dominance with a fifth consecutive victory in the race, while Kate Courtney, in her first participation, left an indelible mark by shattering the current women's record that had been in place for a decade.

Swenson secures his fifth victory in Leadville and Courtney breaks historic record

Courtney returned to competition at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB after several months away from the World Cup due to a hand injury. And her return could not have been better, she crossed the finish line in 6h 48'55", improving by 10 minutes and 28 seconds the record set by Annika Langvad in 2015. In addition, she outperformed the current champion, Melisa Rollins, by more than ten minutes, who finished second with 6h 59'16" and became the third woman in history to finish in under seven hours. The podium was completed by Cecily Decker, who with her third place took the lead in the women's Life Time Grand Prix.

In the men's race, Swenson was once again unbeatable. The American has this race figured out and broke away with John Gaston and Simon Pellaud in the early kilometers, launching his final attack on the iconic climb to Columbine. He stopped the clock at 5h 45'35", just two minutes off his own record from 2023, marking the second best time in history. He outpaced Gaston by 15'16", while Pellaud finished third. With this result, he extends his lead in the Life Time Grand Prix to seven points.

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"I didn't know if the record was possible until the final stretch. I am proud of what we have achieved today," Courtney declared after crossing the finish line. Swenson, on the other hand, acknowledged that "the terrain was very loose, so I tried to stay on my feet and give it my all. We go race by race, always aiming to win."

Top 5 women's Leadville Trail 100 MTB 2025

1. Kate Courtney - 6:48:55
2. Melisa Rollins - 6:59:16
3. Cecily Decker - 7:09:48
4. Sofía Gómez Villafañe - 7:16:52
5. Sarah Lange - 7:17:16

Top 5 men's Leadville Trail 100 MTB 2025

1. Keegan Swenson - 5:45:35
2. John Gaston - 6:00:51
3. Simon Pellaud - 6:08:21
4. Torbjørn Andre Røed - 6:15:03
5. Payson McElveen - 6:15:03