For the first time in its 27 year history the Leadville Trail 100 will be hosting a LIVE stream web cast of one of its ultra endurance races. On August 15 an international web audience will know who the 2009 LT100 MTB champion is the moment it happens. The action, tension and drama of the world’s toughest 100 mile mountain bike race will be captured in 4 live web casts throughout the 12 hour race.

Versatile Productions of Carbondale in conjunction with Leadville video producer Karen Rinehart will produce 4 live 1/2 hour video segments of the race: at the starting line, 3 hours into the race, as the first racers cross the finish line, and at the 12 hour cutoff. They will specifically cover the progress and finish of celebrity riders such as 6-time LT100 champion, Dave Wiens, as well as international biking legends Lance Armstrong and Tinker Juarez.

However, the live stream will also be a fantastic marketing opportunity for Leadville and Lake County. In addition to all the race action, the production will include: profiles of Leadville and Lake County, LT100 founder interviews, “Man on the Street” interviews and stories, local color, as well as race results, and LT100 sponsor interviews. Not only is the live stream web cast a first for the LT100, but also for Leadville.

So, if last year’s mountain bike race was touted as the “David and Goliath” showdown, tune in online August 15 to watch the sequel: “David and Goliath II: The Return of Lance.”

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The Leadville Trail 100 is an ultra endurance mountain biking event this Saturday August 15 in Leadville, Colorado. This year is a rematch. Dave Wiens has won the event for the last 6 years in a row. Last year he beat Lance Armstrong as they dueled it out. The two rode together for much of the race, but Wiens pulled away towards the end of the race to a decisive victory.

This year, Lance is in much better shape, coming off of his third place finish at the recent Tour de France. Many think he will handily beat Wiens this year. He is leaner, more fit, and he is bringing a team member or two to help him. He will be without his expected lieutenant though, since Levi Leipheimer broke his wrist and ended up dropping out of the TdF.

(Dave leads Lance up a climb during last year’s race.)

With so many people predicting an easy victory for Lance, we wanted to provide a different view. The following list is courtesy of UltraRob, an outdoorsman, racer, blogger, and mountain biker ( http://www.ultrarob.com/ ) .

Top Ten Reasons Dave Wiens Will Beat Lance Armstrong at the 2009 Leadville Trail 100

10.) Twin Lakes is going to have its annual Coloradoans vs Texans tomato war a couple weeks early. It won’t go well for Lance.

9.) Dave won’t crash in the creek crossing at the bottom of Powerline like Lance did in a Winter Park race in 1999.

8.) Dave is from Colorado and not a transplant from Texas

7.) Dave has figured out how to use the electricity on Powerline to climb faster.

6.) The Tour de France wasn’t a good way to train for the Leadville 100

5.) Rabid old school mountain bike fans will cause Lance to pass out from dope smoke clouds on Columbine. France will rejoice that Lance is caught ‘doping’

4.) Johann won’t be following in the team car to give Lance information over race radio

3.) No 3G reception up on the divide, Lance can’t Tweet like he can in Europe and panics.

2.) Dave is man enough to ride a hardtail

1.) Dave has more balls than Lance

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Please be sure to read ALL our Leadville 100 Coverage:

http://reviews.mtbr.com/blog/category/leadville-100/

Last year’s Life Time Fitness Leadville Trail 100 (LT100) Mountain Bike Race was touted as the “David and Goliath” showdown, pitting seven-time Tour de France Champion, Lance Armstrong, against Dave Wiens, Gunnison local and five-time LT100 MTB Champion. David (Wiens) came out on top. This year’s 16th Annual LT100 Bike Race is gearing up to be just as exciting if not more so. Not only will the David and Goliath variable repeat itself in the form of Armstrong and Wiens at the starting line, but biking legend Tinker Juarez and a host of other top-notch cyclist will be joining them.

The Life Time Fitness Leadville Trail 100 MTB, held this year on August 15, begins and ends in Leadville, and runs through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The race is run on a 50-mile out-and-back course, starting and finishing in downtown Leadville at 10,200 ft elevation. Major climbs include 3,000+ feet, with total elevation change nearly 14,000 feet. This year’s Life Time Fitness Leadville Trail 100 ultra marathon is presented by Vasque.

First run in 1994, the USA Cycling-sanctioned Leadville Trail 100 MTB has become the premiere ultra marathon event in mountain bike racing. Race participation is determined by lottery held February 1. Race entry is a cherished feat in itself. This year thousands of entrants vied for the 1,000+ coveted slots.

“Every one wants to ride with the man,” states Race President Ken Chlouber, referring to Armstrong’s participation in last year’s race as well as his commitment to be at this year’s starting line.

In 2008, Dave Wiens of Gunnison successfully defended his title by beating 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong by just under 2 minutes and setting a new course record of 6:45:45. Wiens has won the “Race Across the Sky” every year since 2003.

Last year was Armstrong’s first finish in a competitive bike race since he retired following his seventh straight triumph in the Tour de France. Armstrong will be back at the start line in August after his participation in the 2009 Tour de France in July.

“Lance may be the only racer I know of who used the Tour de France to train for the Leadville Trail 100,” jokes Chlouber.

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Yeti sweeps Pro GRT men’s events at Blast the Mass

Aaron Gwin (Moronga Valley, Calif./Yeti) and Darian Harvey (Durango, Colo./Cannondale) won the men’s and women’s Downhill contests at the third stop on USA Cycling’s Pro Gravity Tour, Blast the Mass. The pair ran away with the wins on the challenging course in Snowmass, Colo. Another Yeti rider, Jared Graves (AUS) took the men’s 4X title while Rachel Bauer (Aspen, Colo./Banshee-Poison) topped the small women’s pro 4X field. For complete results from Blast the Mass, click here.

With three of five Pro GRT events complete, Kain Leonard (Gunnison, Colo./Crested Butte Mountain Sports) and Darian Harvey (Durango, Colo./Cannondale) lead the first-ever Pro GRT. The latest version of the USA Cycling Pro Gravity Tour standings is as follows:

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JUSTIN LEOV TAKES MONSTER ENERGY GARBANZO DOWNHILL LEADING AUSSIE, KIWI PODIUM DOMINATION

Calgary’s Miranda Miller Wins Pro Women Category

To watch/down load video go to: http://video.crankworx.com/flash/player/

WHISTLER, BC, August 9, 2009 – Justin Leov beats the dust, and the rest of the field to take top spot in the Monster Energy Garbanzo DH at Kokanee Crankworx 2009. With only one run to make their mark and over 330 competitors over all, there was no room for error.

The Monster Energy Garbanzo DH descends nearly 3,400 feet from top to bottom, through some of the most challenging and aggressive terrain in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. “Riding smart was key today,” says Stacy Kohut, announcer and longtime 4-cross racer. “Justin and Miranda both played it right and came out on top.”

“I held it pretty solid and then during the last minute I really smashed it,” says Leov, first place winner of Pro Men. “Near the end I was just holding on and it worked out.”

Justin Leov (NZL), grabbed first with a time of 13:44.55; second place was Chris Kovarik (AUS), with a time of 13:46.61 and third place went to Sam Hill (AUS), with a time of 13:48.31.

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