Todd Wells wins Leadville

After 6 hours and 19 minutes, Todd Wells (SRAM – TLD) and his 2017 SCOTT Scale rolled across the finish line of the Leadville Trail 100 to take a convincing victory in one of the season’s hardest events. As the name suggests, the Leadville 100 encompasses 100 miles of trail outside of Leadville, Colorado.  At 10,152 feet above sea level, it’s the highest incorporated city in the United States, and the elevation always presents significant challenges.

“Leadville was awesome!” said Wells. “The race couldn't have gone better for me. Jeremiah Bishop and I got clear of the group in the first two miles in what was the slowest start I've ever experienced there,” described Wells.

“We were joined about twenty minutes later by Joe Dombrowski at the top of the first steep climb. From there we rode together until Powerline where Bishop dropped off at the bottom and I dropped Joe on the descent,” concluded Wells. He continued to the finish alone, taking his third Leadville victory.

With two victories already under his belt (in 2011 and 2014), Wells applied his extensive experience to the unique event. The course features massive climbs and fast descents and mostly covers 4x4 and 2-track jeep roads. With this in mind, Wells rode a 2017 Scott Scale, which was light for the climbs yet comfortable for high-speed descents. He also fitted clip on aerobars. The course features several sections of exposed, windy roads, so the aerodynamic advantage of a tucked position is clear.

“The new Scott Scale was incredible,” said Wells. “The bike is so light and fast up the climbs but very forgiving for a hardtail on the descents. I don't know how they did it but the bike climbs like a road bike but descends almost like a full suspension bike. My Scale was the perfect weapon for the ‘Race Across the Sky’,” he said.