Kenda Riders Take on Leadville 100

The Leadville Trail 100 MTB is never an easy day. At altitude, every climb hurts, every descent comes fast, and 100 miles leaves plenty of time for things to go wrong. This year, Kenda’s pro riders showed that the right tire choice, preparation and persistence can make a big difference.

Sarah Lange led the Kenda riders with an impressive 4th-place finish, putting her 6th overall in the Life Time Grand Prix standings. Sarah attacked early, stayed in the fight through the first half of the race and set her fastest times on both the Columbine climb and descent. She chose the Kenda Rush 2.4 in 120 TPI front and rear, a setup she said delivered the speed she needed on pavement while still providing plenty of grip on the rougher sections.

Hannah Otto continued her remarkable Leadville consistency with an 8th-place finish—her sixth time racing Leadville and her sixth consecutive top-10 result. For the changed course, Hannah selected the Rush 2.2, looking for maximum speed without giving up cornering confidence. The combination proved exactly what she wanted: fast on pavement and confidence-inspiring through loose terrain. Hannah remains inside the top 10 of the Life Time Grand Prix standings.

For Emma Langley, Leadville was about trying something new. Racing the event for the first time, Emma finished 14th in a stacked field while racing Kenda’s new Dagger 32 x 2.4 tires. The added traction gave her confidence on the rougher sections without feeling like she was giving up speed. It was also a memorable moment as Emma became one of the first riders to race a 32-inch mountain bike at Leadville.

Laurel Quinones also came away encouraged, improving on her performance from last year. Running the Rush 2.4, Laurel said the tires handled Leadville's mix of damp, muddy conditions early in the race and dry, loose terrain later in the day with confidence and control.

And at just Kyan Olshove continued to show his potential with a 28th-place finish, improving on his result from last year. Kyan spent significant time testing both the Rush 2.2 and 2.4, ultimately appreciating the 2.2 for its balance of speed, grip and capability across Leadville's challenging terrain.

On the men's side, Alexey Vermeulen finished 16th, moving him into 5th overall in the Life Time Grand Prix. Racing the Rush 2.4 Lite on ENVE wheel at 17 psi, Alexey completed the race without any flats or tire issues.

“Leadville is always a tough race to nail. I left feeling like I had more to give, although I reached the finish line empty. A faster course didn’t make it any easier! Looking ahead to Cheq and the end of the season.”

From the front of the race to riders pushing through their own goals, Leadville once again showed what makes mountain bike racing special. For Kenda, it's about developing tires that give riders the confidence to push harder—whether that's racing for the podium, chasing a Grand Prix title or simply beating last year's result.