Armstrong conquers Leadville 100 bike race

Note the rear flat tire as Lance Armstrong approaches the finish line.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Just off the Tour de France a few weeks ago, Lance Armstrong grasped first place in the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. Contrary to the smooth paved roads of the French Alps, the course is a grueling 100 miles through some of the highest dirt trails in Colorado. The ride starts in the historic mining town of Leadville in the heart of the Rocky Mountains at 10,000 feet. From here the course has a number of climbs and descents, totaling 14,000 feet.  Top winners of this race clock in at just over six and a half hours, without a rest.

Armstrong had participated last year to finish in the top 10.  This year, Lance's training paid off with his official re-entry into professional cycling, propelling him into the first place position. His time was nearly 17 minutes off the record, with a time of 6 hours, 28 minutes, 50 seconds. Lance even experienced a flat on the last descent to the finish. Since there is no crew support in this race, riders are responsible for their own repairs. Filling the tire with canned flat tire foam, Lance managed to inflate the tire just enough to get over the finish line to score first place.

To learn more about the race, see the AP story by Arnie Stapleton.