big johnson said:The Leadville course is not a tech course at all. So MTB skills really won't play too much into the game. Besides LA has some serious skills off road. He just beat Jay Henry (Jay placed 5th in USA Nats last month) in the Colorado State Champs on a course that Jay called an 8 out of 10 on technical merit. Not bad for a roadie.
So yeah, Lance can off road with the best. And the Leadville Course is mostly all fireroad, gravel road and pavement. There is a rumor about a new singletrack section but I doubt it will play a part in the overall.
I don't agree that Lance can off road with the best of them, at least not when it comes to real mountainbiking, which as you noted, Leadville is not. I'd be very surprised if Lance could hang in the top 20 of a World Cup XC race.
Upon further reflection, I hope the top racers don't bring domestiques to ride with them, I'd rather see it one on one. I sent Lance a message on Twitter conveying this thought of mine.