Lance Armstrong and Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter in Denver last week Photo: EverymanTri.com
Last year Lance Armstrong crushed the competition, set a new course record, and vowed to come back to defend his title at the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race in Colorado.
Today we get word that Armstrong has decided to drop out of the Leadville race and instead remain at his Aspen home.
Click HERE to watch and see what happened last year.
"He is still suffering from a nagging injury to his hip from the Tour de France,” Armstrong manager Mark Higgins told Velonews. “His girls will also be in Aspen with him this weekend so he will be staying at home,” he added.
Armstrong's decision to drop of the race leaves RadioShack teammate Levi Leipheimer as one of the favorites to win the race.
The Leadville Trail 100 is one of the hardest and highest mountain bike races in the world.
The out and back course starts at about 9,000 feet above sea level and climbs to 12,620 feet of elevation. It does not usually draw professional road cyclist but Armstrong helped put the race on the map last year when he battled longtime Leadville 100 amateur champion David Wiens.
The race sells out every year with riders from about every state in the union racing, as well as riders from 21 different countries.
Armstrong was just in Denver, Colorado (see photo) where he helped launch the new Colorado Quizno's Pro Challenge stage bike race.
You can learn more about that race watch him ride with thousands through downtown Denver HERE.
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Comments
David Wiens and amateur? LOL that is classic.
I know...Dave was a pro mtn biker that retired and won Leadville 6 straight times - not really an amateur!!!
Reporters!? Ugh. Wiens an amateur. Roman Mica is apparently an amateur reporter :)
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