Liv Racing Collective athlete Melisa Rollins claimed victory at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB, earning her second win at the legendary Colorado race aboard her Pique Advanced SL and in the recently launched Tesca Pro shoes.
Fresh off winning the U.S. Cross-country Marathon (XCM) National Championship, Rollins arrived in Leadville wearing the stars-and-stripes jersey and riding a custom-painted Pique Advanced SL created to celebrate her newly earned national title.
The 102-mile race through the Colorado high country challenged riders with nearly 10,000 feet of climbing and elevations above 12,000 feet. Rollins' race got off to a difficult start when she was caught in an early crash, forcing her to regroup and begin working her way back toward the front.
Undeterred, Rollins steadily moved through the field aboard her custom Pique Advanced SL. She continued gaining ground through the high-altitude miles and, after a determined chase, caught race leader Cecily Decker just beyond Twin Lakes at mile 63.
With the leaders together, the closing miles set the stage for an exciting head-to-head battle. Rollins and Decker shared the work through a long, exposed section before going blow-for-blow on the final climb up St. Kevin's. As they crested the climb, Rollins found another gear, opened a small advantage, and committed fully to the run toward the finish.
Rollins crossed the line solo in 5:58:43, securing her second Leadville Trail 100 MTB title after first winning the event in 2024.
"Thank you to every single one of you who cheered on course, coming down Columbine, back at home on the livestream, at the finish line. And to everyone behind the scenes who never stopped believing. I felt it,” Rollins shared after the race. “Proud to have been able to put on a show and to pull off a ride I’ll never forget.”
The victory carries added significance after a challenging year that tested Rollins both physically and mentally. Coming shortly after her XCM national title, the Leadville win marks another major milestone in her return to racing.
After winning in 2024 and finishing second in 2025, Rollins' return to the top step in 2026 adds another chapter to her history with Leadville and a comeback season increasingly defined by what she loves most: racing her bike.
