With Pace Quinn Simmons on Leadville, the Tour, and his Dauphiné stage win
Sep 6, 2026
Quinn Simmons, the aggressive American Lidl-Trek road racer and mountain biker, reflects on his spontaneous Leadville challenge just after the Tour de France. He revisits his breakaway-filled Tour, his breakthrough Dauphiné win, and racing alongside Tadej Pogačar. They also explore U.S. racing’s struggles, Olympic ambitions, sibling support, Worlds preparation, and Simmons’s competitive streak beyond cycling.
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Leadville Rivalry Drama Boosted The Race
- Media framing turned Simmons’s Leadville appearance into a rivalry with Keegan Swenson, although both riders were excited to compete.
- The controversy ultimately helped the race by bringing it far more attention.
Leadville Became A Positioning Battle
- Simmons found Leadville much more aggressive than his 2019 experience, with roughly 25 capable riders fighting for position immediately.
- He was surprised by riders diving into early singletrack despite limited mountain-bike handling skills.
Leadville Still Favors Simple Bikes
- Simmons concluded that Leadville rewarded simpler equipment more than the modern setup he brought.
- He believed a high-post hardtail, narrower tires, and less suspension would have been faster and lighter for the course.