

July 28-30, 2023
From 10,152 to 12,424 feet of Colorado Rocky elevation, the Stages Cycling Leadville Stage Race takes on the breathtaking backdrops and soul-refining climbs of the iconic LT100 MTB course across three exciting days — earning you a shot to qualify for the Stages Cycling LT100 MTB along the way. With post-race dinners, daily awards and celebrations, you’ll step into the warm embrace of the Cloud City family of gritty, gutsy, determined cyclists — and never look back. Come for three days of high-altitude riding, stay to compete for a coveted belt buckle.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, July 27th, 2023
Registration and Packet Pickup
- 5:00pm-8:00pm
- Location: LRS Retail Store – 316 Harrison Ave
- Photo ID is required. Packets must be picked up in person. They will not be mailed or given to others.
- No on-site Registration
Friday, July 28th, 2023
Registration and Packet Pickup
- 7:00am-8:30am
- Location: Lake County Rodeo Grounds – 6th Ave & McWethy
Drop Bag Drop Off
- 7:30am-8:45am
- Location: Lake County Rodeo Grounds – 6th Ave & McWethy
- Drop bags must be a clear plastic bag with no liquids
- Neutral Tech – Cycles of Life will be onsite for neutral support for any last minute quick check overs!
Race Start – Day 1 – 40 Miles
- 9:00am
- Start – Location: Lake County Rodeo Grounds – 6th Ave & McWethy
- Finish – Twin Lakes Dam
Race Shuttles
- 12:00pm-2:00pm
- Twin Lakes Dam to Lake County Rodeo Grounds – 6th Ave & McWethy
- Race Shuttles will be taking racers back to the Lake County Rodeo Grounds
- Bikes are not allowed on Shuttles. There will be overnight security.
Note: If you did not sign up for a race shuttle during registration, you may purchase a seat for $10 at packet pick up (based on availability).
Awards/ Post-Race Dinner / Entertainment
- 4:00pm-6:30pm
- Location: Freight- 320 E. 9th St.
Saturday, July 29th, 2023
Race Start- Day 2 – 2o Miles
- 9:00am
- Start: Twin Lakes Dam – Intersection of Highway 82 and County Road 25 – directions
- Finish: Twin Lakes Dam
- Note: Athletes are expected to drive to the day 2 race start at Twin Lakes Dam (directions). Carpooling is highly encouraged to limit traffic and parking issues. There are no shuttles for day 2.
- Parking Areas at Twin Lakes – HERE this is approximate, do not drive over plant life, be respectful of the land.
- Athletes can leave their bikes at the Twin Lakes Dam after Day 2 finish. Overnight security will be provided.
- Neutral Tech – Cycles of Life will be onsite for neutral support, or check on any mechanical issues
Awards/ Post-Race Dinner / Entertainment
- 4:00pm-6:30pm
- Location: Freight- 320 E. 9th St.
Sunday, July 30th, 2023
Race Shuttles
- 6:00am-7:30am
- Location: Lake County Rodeo Grounds – 6th Ave & McWethy
- Race Shuttles will be picking up athletes at the Lake County Rodeo Grounds for the Twin Lakes Dam drop-off. Bikes are not allowed on shuttles.
- Neutral Tech – Cycles of Life will be onsite for neutral support, or check on any mechanical issues
Note: If you did not sign up for a race shuttle during registration, you may purchase a seat for $10 at packet pick up (based on availability).
Drop Bag Drop Off
- 7:30am – 8:30am
- Location: Lake County Rodeo Grounds – 6th Ave & McWethy
- Drop bags must be a clear plastic bag with no liquids
Race Start- Day 3 – 43 Miles
- 9:00am
- Start: Twin Lakes Dam
- Finish: Lake County Rodeo Grounds
Post-Race
- 11:00am-3:00pm
- Location: Lake County Rodeo Grounds – 6th Ave & McWethy
- Finish the weekend off with post-race food, beer and tunes!
Awards Ceremony and LT100 MTB Qualifier Coin Drawing
- 3:00pm
- Location: Lake County Rodeo Grounds – 6th Ave & McWethy
- Age group awards and LT100 MTB Coin drawing – must be present!
REGISTRATION & PRICING
General registration will open on January 10, 2023 at 10:00 AM MT.
- First come-first served until the event is sold out.
Early access registration for Life Time members opens on January 3, 2023 at 10:00 AM MT:
- In order to be eligible, members must have had digital or in-club memberships for at least 6 months prior to registration.
- Membership number and date of membership will be verified during registration.
- Limited availability, first come first served.
2023 Event Pricing:
- Individual Registration Fee: $575
- Tandem Registration Fee: $700
- Team Registration Fee: $700
Minimum age for participation:
- 14+ on race day
COURSE INFO
COURSE
The 100-mile out-and-back course, split into 3 stages, in the midst of the Colorado Rockies. Low point of 9,200 feet is located at the Twin Lakes dam. The high point is Columbine Mine, at 12,513 feet. The majority of course is on mountain two-track fire roads. A sub 11-hour finish time is required to be considered an official Stage Race Finisher.
- Stage 1 — 40 miles
- Start at the Lake County Rodeo Grounds and finish at Twin Lakes Dam.
- GPX File / Interactive Map
- 40 miles
- 4,035′ Elevation Gain
- 11,161′ Highest Point
- Route map for Leadville Stage Race – Day 1
- Stage 2 — 22 miles
- Start and finish at Twin Lakes Dam while climbing/descending Columbine.
- GPX / Interactive Map
- 22 Miles
- 4,108′ Elevation Gain
- 12,513′ Highest Point
- Route map for Leadville Stage Race – Day 2
- Stage 3 — 41 miles
- Start at Twin Lakes Dam and finish at the Lake County Rodeo Grounds.
- GPX / Interactive Map
- 4,872′ Elevation Gain
- 11,161′ Highest Point
- Route map for Leadville Stage Race – Day 3
- Map – all 3 stages on one GPX / Interactive map HERE
Distances subject to change.
Please note: Due to safety restrictions on the course wheelchair participation is not permitted.
All or part of this operation is conducted on Public Lands under special permit from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
This event is held on the San Isabel National Forest under a special use permit.
AID STATIONS & COURSE CUTOFFS
There will be well-stocked aid stations along the course each day.
AID STATION LOCATIONS:
Stage 1: Carter Summit aid station at mile 10 and Pipeline aid station at mile 28.
Stage 2: Columbine aid station at mile 11.
Stage 3: Pipeline aid station at mile 11.5 and Carter Summit aid station at mile 29.6
CREW & SPECTATOR INFORMATION
It’s great to see you! Crews and spectators are treated and appreciated equally with the participants and are included in the Leadville Race Series family. Crew pets must be leashed and under control at all times. Crews are welcome at all aid stations except the turnaround. Crews should allow adequate time to park and walk to aid stations. Crew vehicles are not allowed on any dirt road sections of the course. Riders are responsible for the actions of their crews. Crews and spectators will not be allowed to access the base of Powerline or obstruct the junction of the paved road and jeep road where riders leave Powerline to head for Pipeline.
Getting to Pipeline, crews should proceed south on Hwy 24 approximately 3 miles, then west on Hwy 300 for a little less than a mile to CR 11/CR 11A “Y” intersection. Follow the slow sweeping right turn on the pavement, uphill and west, onto the gravel road that goes through the gravel pit area. Riders will be on paved CR11, the same road as crews for about a mile, so please drive slowly and use every caution on this stretch of road. Please allow your rider to clear this checkpoint before crewing. Crews should then proceed back to Hwy 24 then south 11 miles. Turn west on Hwy. 82 for approximately ¾ mile then left on Lake County Road 25.
Shuttles will be providing transportation for athletes from the Twin Lakes Dam finish line back to the Lake County Rodeo Grounds. No bikes are allowed on the shuttles, overnight bike storage will be available at Twin Lakes Dam.
PARKING & SHUTTLES
RESULTS & PHOTOS
Live results will be available on race weekend!
Visit the link below to view results and photos from past editions of the Leadville Stage Race.
AWARDS
Daily Presentation
At the post-race dinner on each day, we will announce the daily stage winners.
Awards Ceremony
All athletes who finish the Stages Cycling Leadville Stage Race in under 11 hours will receive a custom belt and a finisher belt buckle. The question is, which size buckle will you earn?
- Riders who finish in under 8.5 hours will receive a LARGE buckle
- Riders who finish in under 11 hours will receive a SMALL buckle
Awards Categories:
- Top 3 Overall Male
- Top 3 Overall Female
- Top 3 Para Male
- Top 3 Para Female
- Top 3 Non-Binary
- Top 3 Singlespeed Male & Female
- Top 3 Team Relay
- Tandem
- Top 3 age group Male & Female
- 19-under
- 20-29
- 30-39
- 40-49
- 50-59
- 60-69
- 70+
Awards Rules:
- Overall top 3 male and female are taken out of their age groups. 3 coins will be dedicated to the overall male and female podiums.
- Age group awards will be based on the age an athlete will be on RACE DAY.
- Athletes must be present at awards on Sunday to accept a coin into the LT100 MTB. The athlete MUST choose which year they will be racing when they receive the coin.
- Relay Teams are not eligible to earn a coin/ spot into the LT100 MTB
LT100 MTB QUALIFICATION SYSTEM
LT100 MTB Qualification System:
The Leadville Stage Race is a qualifier for the Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB. There are a total of 40 LT100 MTB qualifier coins up for grabs at this year’s race. Half of the total LT100 MTB coins will be distributed based on performance and half of the coins will be given away in the Event Lottery at the conclusion of the awards ceremony.
20 slots for each event will be distributed based on performance:
- Slots will be distributed to each gender and age group (29 and under, 30-39, etc., and based on the percentage of total athletes in those age groups), with a minimum of one slot for every age group.
- The top athletes in each age class will receive the allocated slots.
- In the event a top athlete elects not to accept a slot, the slot will roll down to the next athlete in the results within the age group.
- If the event slots are not claimed after the roll down in each age group, those slots will be allocated to the Event Lottery, as described below.
20 slots for each event will be distributed through the Event Lottery:
- All finishers under the predetermined maximum finish time who have indicated their desire to participate in the lottery will be entered in the lottery.
- Names will be drawn from the eligible lottery athletes and slots will be given out.
- In the event an athlete opts not to accept a slot, the slots will roll down to the next athlete that is drawn until ALL slots have been distributed.
- Qualification slots must be claimed in person immediately.
- Registration for the Leadville Trail 100 MTB must be completed and paid for during the designated time offered.
- Only solo bikers competing the required distance under the allotted cutoff time will be considered as potential qualifiers.
- All registration fees for the LT100 MTB are non-transferable and subject to the event’s deferral policies.
Visit our LT100 MTB Qualification System page for more information.
ZERO WASTE & LEAVE NO TRACE
Our races are Zero Waste events. Look for recycle and compost bins at every aid station and start/finish. Please discard any trash in an appropriate container. Intentional littering on the course will be grounds for disqualification. The course—on trails both public and private—travels past many historic sites and through areas of exceptional beauty. Help us keep them pristine.
We will be recycling all plastic, aluminum and cardboard during these races, and all our events. We’ll take care of this at the aid stations. At the start/finish, please ensure you place trash or recyclable materials in the appropriate containers, which will be well marked.
GU’s TerraCycle containers will also be available for disposal of nutrition related waste
LT100 CORRAL INFO
Your time at the 2023 Leadville Stage Race can be used to enhance your corral position at the LT100 MTB. Please consult the chart below for corresponding times and corral info.
VOLUNTEERS
From the very beginning, volunteers have made the Leadville Race Series possible. We truly appreciate all that our great volunteers do to make our races run smoothly and to make the racers’ experience unforgettable. If you are going to be in town for the Leadville Stage Race, we would love for you to join the family and pitch in. Thanks in advance for your help — we couldn’t do it without you!
You can find more information here.
DEFERRALS
NEW! We have updated our deferral policies for the 2023 Leadville Stage Race.
90 + Day Out From Event:
- Option 1: Receive a 60% refund on the entry fee.
- Option 2: Defer into the following year, pay a deferral fee of 40% of the entry fee.
- Stage Race Option 1: Receive a $345 refund.
- Stage Race Option 2: Defer into the following year, pay a deferral fee of $230.
89 Days or Less From Event:
- Defer into the following year, and pay a deferral fee of 40% of the entry fee.
No transfers.
- Want to defer your entry? Please email our athlete services manager with your name and the event from which you are deferring.
- Please see our deferral policies page for complete information on deferrals.
BIKE SHIPPING
Bike Flights
If you’re looking to ship your bike to Leadville, consider our bike shipping partner, Bike Flights. Click here for more information.
Cycles of Life
Cycles of Life is a full service bike shop right in the town of Leadville, providing shipping services, all types of minor and major repair, tune-ups, custom wheel building, suspension and fork overhauls, bike fitting and more. To make things easy for you, have your bike shipped directly to the shop where Cycles of Life will unpack, assemble, inspect, fully tune and prepare your bike for race day. Post-race, simply drop off your ride and Cycles of Life will repack and ship to your destination.
Click here for Cycles of Life shipping package options and details.