Lance Armstrong victorious after a last minute entry

MT. CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. – August 1 – On Sunday, July 31, Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) and the towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte hosted one of three mountain bike races held across the nation to qualify athletes for the Leadville Trail 100 race in Leadville, Colo. on August 13, 2011. The Crested Butte Alpine Odyssey (AO) had an outstanding turnout with over 270 racers and a last minute entry from Lance Armstrong (Austin, Texas), 7-time winner of the Tour de France, Leadville Trail 100 winner and cancer survivor. With an enthusiastic crowd of about 300 people cheering the racers on, Armstrong came across the finish line first for yet another victory to add to his collection.

After 63 miles, a snow field 200 yards in length and over 7,500 feet of vertical climbing, Armstrong won the race by three seconds, beating Greg Krause (Littleton, Colo.) with a time of 4:32:21. Local racer, Travis Scheefer (Crested Butte, Colo.), racing for Team Alpine Orthopaedics, took third overall with a time of 4:33:48, after leading the race for most of the day.

Rebecca Rusch (Ketchum, Idaho)(Specialized), two-time champion of the Leadville Trail 100 (LT100) and women’s LT100 course record holder, led the women across the finish line with a time of 4:51:37. Jennifer Smith (Crested Butte, Colo.) (Team Alpine Orthopaedics) took second finishing in 4:54:39 and Jari Kirkland (Crested Butte, Colo.) (Team Alpine Orthopaedics) came in third with a time of 5:08:41.

Armstrong announced yesterday, via a Twitter message, that he was heading to Crested Butte to race in the Alpine Odyssey, providing an exciting surprise to race organizers and racers alike. The race proceeded flawlessly, with beautiful weather, strong competition, and well-organized volunteers and staff.

“Beyond psyched with how the race went today,” said Dave Ochs, Alpine Odyssey race director, after the conclusion of a long day of racing and months of organizing the event. “The special “tweet” yesterday definitely heightened the awareness of the event,” added Ochs. “All in all, everything went perfectly; racers coming through the finish with smiles on their faces tell us we did a good job, and they had a lot of fun; that’s what went on today. We hope to see all of the racers back in paradise again soon, and look forward to hosting next year’s event.”

“We extend our congratulations to all of the racers for coming to Crested Butte to test themselves on such a challenging course,” said Daren Cole, vice president of sales and marketing for CBMR. “The altitude, the course design, and the level of riding all made for a great event that mimics what the Leadville Trail 100 is famous for. The racing was intense, the crowds were great and the crew that put the entire event together was outstanding. The race would not have been such a success otherwise,” added Cole.

For complete results visit www.onlineraceresults.com/event/view_event.php?event_id=7061 or email Erica Reiter [email]ereiter@cbmr.com[/email]

More photos available, please credit fenlonphoto.com for all use of images.

About the Leadville Qualifying Series and the Crested Butte Alpine Odyssey:

The Leadville Qualifying Series (LQS) is a collaboration between Life Time Fitness and AEG to promote the Leadville style of mountain biking, in some of the country’s most breathtaking areas. Each of the three series provides athletes with the opportunity to qualify for the legendary Leadville Trail 100. For more information on the Leadville Qualifying Series visit www.leadvillequalifiers.com .

About Crested Butte:

Nestled in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Crested Butte is committed to preserving the pristine landscape and mountain lifestyle. With vibrant Victorian store fronts and expressive local characters, the small historic town remains true to its heritage and radiates an unparalleled welcoming and inviting spirit that celebrates a simpler life and time. Thanks to a widely diverse landscape, whether beginner or burgeoning national champion, outdoor enthusiasts of all levels will find a new challenge with each visit. From world-class mountain biking, to legendary skiing and snowboarding, to a secluded fly-fishing experience, Crested Butte is one of Colorado’s best-kept secrets. www.skicb.com