2018 US MTB national champion Howard Grotts took home his third consecutive win in the Leadville Trail 100 race on Saturday, attacking over the top of the final Powerline climb to put over three minutes into the chase group with three WorldTour riders Lachlan Morton, Alex Howes (EF Education First) and Peter Stetina (Trek-Segafredo).
But it was the 17-year-old phenom Quinn Simmons who won the sprint for second ahead of Morton and Stetina.
Grotts completed the 103-mile race in a blazing fast, six hours, 19 minutes and 18 seconds.
"It just got down to a really small group on Columbine. When I got my gap I figured I just gotta roll with it," Grott said.
"The roadies were great. They know how to work on the flats, too, this time we really kept it rolling better which was nice so you get through it all faster. We didn’t actually save any time, but it definitely felt like it was faster.”
Rose Grant (Stan's No Tubes/Pivot) topped the women's field by over 18 minutes ahead of Sarah Sturm (Specialized), with Colombian Angela Parra in third.
Results
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