For the second year in a row Crested Butte has hosted a Qualifying Race for the Leadville 100 – and Lance Armstrong has raced both years in Crested Butte. Lance finished 1st in 2011 by a narrow margin and this year the young guns were out to get him and Lance finished 5th. I entered into the race last year (and finished). It is a very hard course – the start is at the base area of Mt. CB, down into town, then up the Slate River Road, with a very steep climb to the top of Paradise divide and then the decent starts as you come around to Gothic Road, through the townsite of Gothic and the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab, then back to Mt. Crested Butte, into the Prospect Subdivision, and onto single track – up Meader, then to the top of the Gold Link lift you catch Columbine trail to the base area – this completes lap 1, the second lap is identical except you climb to the top of Paradise Divide via Washington Gulch Road through the steeps in Elkton… overall 65 miles and lost of elevation change.
As noted on the Leadville Race Series Website: “Crested Butte, CO is the home of the Alpine Odyssey 100, as well as the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame – and with good reason. The landscape surrounding this world-famous skiing area boasts nearly two million acres of pristine wilderness. The Alpine Odyssey racecourse encircles Mt. Crested Butte and Mt. Baldy and travels through areas noted as the “Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado” by the Colorado legislature and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations.” Top 5 Men Finishers 1) Cameron Chambers 3:59:03 2) Greg Krause 4:02:33 3) John Gaston 4:07:00 4) Brian Smith 4:09:19 5) Lance Armstrong 4:09:27 Amy Beisel won the women’s Alpine Odyssey win today with a time of 4:52:51! When people consider Crested Butte Real Estate for a Second Home – they appreciate the fun year round events held in Crested Butte. This was an example of another great event hosted in Crested Butte / Mt. Crested Butte!
