First Lance said he was probably going to enter the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. "Wow!" we all said. Then Flandis said he too would probably do it, and everybody clapped hands, danced jigs and said "it's on, suckas!" But then Lance said, hey, I forgot I have this crazy 'scheduling conflict,' you know, sorry. And everyone sighed with disappointment. But recently, it's been reported, Armstrong was up at Leadville with his familiar cohort Chris Carmichael, and he was checking out the course's multiple climbs -- just like he used to pre-ride the climbs of the Tour's mountain stages. Seems like he just might go for it.

[www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=news/2007/aug07/aug04mtbnews]

Some years back I actually spent a summer in Leadville and raced the Leadville 100, so I got to know those climbs that Lance was scouting, in a disturbingly intimate fashion. There are five significant climbs. The three that really stick out in the mind are St. Kevin's, a steep mosquito-swarming mining road encountered within the first ten miles; the road to the Columbine mine, a ten-miler that starts off moderate but steadily degenerates to an above-timberline granny gear slog or ego-slashing hike-a-bike for most riders (not for the likes of Lance and Flandis); and the ridiculous Power Line, straight up the side of a mountain in a power line cut -- after mile 70. Oh, how I suffered in the black shadows of Mount Massive. A lot of people quit the race while staring up the side of that mountain at the last aid station there. Having barreled down the same cut at about mile 20, dodging and vaulting over huge bottomless fissures in the earth, they can not begin to imagine riding up it or pushing their bikes up it.

If Lance and Flandis do indeed come to Leadville -- bringing their respective clouds of suspicion roiling up the high valley like dust from an apocalyptic cattle drive -- they could really torch those climbs, maybe like they've never been torched before. There is not much technical challenge, hardly any singletrack, not much serious mountain bike terrain over the entire course that could keep these tarmac-softened fellars from contending for the win. (And no drug testing either, I'll note slyly.) The extreme altitude would probably be to their advantage. In many ways it could be said that the race is a perfect set-up for either of these superheroes. However, judging by Floyd's less than super performance at the recent Teva Mountain Games, and by Lance's full slate of speaking engagements (and historic propensity to crash off-road), one is tempted to predict that both men will be beaten soundly by multiple old-hand dirtmongers who are better seasoned for the Leadville challenge than some semi-retired top dogs.

The reigning king of Leadville, Dave Wiens, has essentially been preparing for his entire cycling life to dominate this event, and that he has, four years running. His record winning time of 7:13 seems impossible, impossible. Those who are familiar with the course are left to ponder this record and wonder, how did he do it? Timing error? If Lance and Floyd come to town, they will be mere interlopers on his Colorado dirt. Should be a fun race ... to watch, that is. August 11.

Robert