WorldTour vs. World Champ: How Quinn Simmons and Keegan Swenson Prepared for Leadville

We interviewed both star riders before the race to get a sense of how each rider was approaching the tech and prep for the 'Race Across the Sky.'

Logan Jones-Wilkins

Published August 17, 2026 10:19AM

The 2026 Leadville Trail 100 MTB was shaping up to be a showdown between two of American cycling’s biggest names: Quinn Simmons and Keegan Swenson.

While the highly anticipated Simmons vs. Swenson battle never quite materialized, we caught up with both riders before the 2026 Leadville Trail 100 to take a closer look at their bikes, race-day mindset, and what makes the legendary Leadville course so special.

For Quinn Simmons, Leadville marked a chance to re-engage with cycling after taking a post-Tour break. But Simmons doesn’t show up to a race without ambition. A former junior mountain bike national champion and 2019 Leadville runner-up, Simmons had plenty of experience to draw on as he faced a deep field of gravel and mountain bike professionals.

Keegan Swenson, meanwhile, entered the Leadville Trail 100 MTB as the rider to beat. After winning every edition of the race since 2021, Swenson had established himself as the modern Leadville gold standard. Despite a course that offered opportunities for an upset this year, the altitude, distance, and competition still made Swenson the overwhelming favorite.

In the end, Swenson delivered once again, securing a record-tying sixth consecutive Leadville Trail 100 victory.

Watch our interviews with two of the biggest names in the 2026 Leadville Trail 100.

00:22 — Keegan Swenson

03:58 — Quinn Simmons