Midway’s Sofia Gomez Villafañe rides to third at Leadville Stage Race

Competitors line up at the start of the 2025 Leadville Stage Race. Photo: Vince Rivard

LEADVILLE, Colo. — Utah’s Sofia Gomez Villafañe, a 31-year-old elite cyclist from Midway, powered her way to a third-place finish at the 2025 Life Time Leadville Stage Race, adding yet another strong performance to her résumé as she prepares for the Leadville Trail 100 MTB next month.

Villafañe, a decorated rider on the international circuit, completed the grueling three-day mountain bike stage race in 6 hours, 39 minutes, and 9 seconds, finishing behind Melisa Rollins of Alpine, Utah, and Kate Courtney of Portola Valley, California. Rollins won the overall with a time of 6:28:09, trimming more than 23 minutes off her winning time from last year.

The Leadville Stage Race covers the same infamous course as the Leadville Trail 100 MTB—but splits it into three consecutive days. Athletes face long climbs, high-altitude passes, and technical descents across Colorado’s rugged Rocky Mountain terrain. Nearly 350 cyclists from 39 states and six countries took on the challenge this year, marking the event’s largest field to date.

Villafañe, who previously represented Argentina at the Olympics and now competes for the U.S. in many domestic events, was part of a stacked women’s field that included some of the biggest names in endurance racing. She is expected to be a top contender at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB on August 9, where the course must be completed in a single day.

The Leadville Stage Race also serves as a qualifier for the 100-mile event. A sub-11-hour cumulative time is required to earn finisher status and, in many cases, entry to the main race. Post-race celebrations followed each stage, with awards, food, and community gatherings held at the Lake County Rodeo Grounds.

“Three consecutive days of high-altitude riding is no small feat,” said Amanda Kussin, marketing manager for the Leadville Race Series. “But the sense of community that forms over the weekend is what makes it truly special.”

Villafañe’s consistent strength across all three stages reflected her experience, endurance, and focus as she ramps up for one of the most prestigious mountain bike races in the world. She’ll return to Leadville in less than two weeks to compete again—this time over 100 miles in a single day.

The Leadville Trail 100 MTB, which marks its 31st edition this year, is the third event in the Life Time Grand Prix series and attracts top talent from across the globe.

Full results from the Leadville Stage Race are available at LeadvilleRaceSeries.com.