19-Time Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Racer Collapses, Dies On Course

Scott Ellis, a 55-year-old Johnstown, Colorado, resident, collapsed and died of a heart attack during the Leadville 100 mountain bike race on Saturday. He was competing in his 19th running of the event. Velo News reports Ellis was more than 80 miles into the race when he collapsed, and numerous riders stopped to assist before medics arrived.

“The entire Leadville family is saddened by Scott’s passing,” read a statement from Life Time Fitness, the race organizer. “As a 19-time participant, he embodied the spirit of Leadville and truly will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Scott’s family and all others who had the privilege to know him. We want to thank the many individuals who so graciously suspended their own races to assist Scott in his time of need. This truly is an example of the power of the human spirit and just how much these athletes are part of the special community we have established in Leadville.”