Like any multiday race series, finishing the six-stage Breck Epic is a tour de force. 

The 200-plus-mile mountain bike race challenges cyclists not only physically, but mentally as well. Beyond having to summon the strength to line up for each new stage, cyclists have to figure out how to avoid bike malfunctions, fueling mishaps or any other unforeseen speed bumps.

It’s possible no one executed their race plan better than Matt Pike of Longmont. Competing in the men’s elite race, Pike won the first three stages of the race, sporting a 16-minute lead heading into the fourth stage on Wednesday, Aug. 13. 

With a hefty lead on the rest of the pro field, Pike wagered whether he should conserve himself over the back half of the stage race, but he opted to once again push himself to his limit during the Aqueduct stage on Wednesday.

Traveling 42.3 miles and climbing over 6,000 feet, Pike secured his fourth stage win of the race by completing the course in 3:24:23. After putting his body through the ringer for the last four days, Pike decided to finally relish in his hard work and enjoy the final two stages of the Breck Epic. 

During the fifth stage of the race — Wheeler — on Thursday, Aug. 14, Pike took fourth overall in the men’s pro elite field with a time of 2:59:28.

With a battle brewing between Jasper, Alberta, Canada’s Cory Wallace and San Luis Obispo, California’s Lance Haidet for a spot behind Pike on the podium, the two cyclists challenged one another over Stage 5.

Finishing in a time of 2:51:49, Wallace secured his first stage win and his fifth top-five finish of the race. Haidet followed close behind Wallace in third (2:52:18) with the United Kingdom’s Simon Pellaud taking third (2:57:40).

Entering the final day of racing on Friday, Aug. 15, Pike sported nearly a 20-minute lead, all but allowing the cyclists to coast across the finish line located in the parking lot of Stephen C. West Ice Arena. 

After event organizers jokingly renamed the race “Breck EPike” earlier in the week because of the cyclist’s dominance, Pike crossed the final finish line in a time of 2:10:32, which was good enough for sixth place over the sixth stage. 

Although Pike finished outside of the top five over the 30.2-mile Gold Dust Trail stage, he still managed to be crowned the men’s pro elite champion of the 2025 Breck Epic with a total time of 18:07:12. 

“I love this race,” Pike said. “It is always like my highlight of the year. So coming back here for my fourth one to race all out every day is always super fun. … I have had a couple of stage wins in the past, but this is definitely my first time winning the thing. I have always had a day with mechanicals or just fatigue, and just have never been able to string together six good days. That was the goal this year. To ride as smooth as possible.”

With a measly seven seconds separating Wallace and Haidet before the start of the sixth stage, the two riders unloaded their gas tanks in the race’s waning moments. Each wanting to finish as high as possible on the podium, Wallace and Haidet fiercely climbed up to Boreas Pass Road before bombing back down to the ice arena below. 

In the end, it was Wallace who narrowly beat Haidet to the finish line. Wallace and Haidet completed the stage in an identical time of 2:10:30, but the Canadian rider was given the advantage at the line. 

Taking fourth overall in the sixth stage, Wallace claimed the silver medal in the men’s pro elite race with a time of 18:25:48. Haidet followed Wallace in third in a time of 18:25:55. 

Los Alamos, New Mexico’s Macky Franklin took second in the sixth stage (2:10:12), securing fourth place overall in the pro race (18:46:01). Novato, Canada’s Cassius Anderson finished in fifth (18:47:08).

Pellaud claimed the title over the final stage, riding across the finish line in 2:03:17.

Leah Van der Linden of Boulder put on her own master class in multiday mountain bike racing in the women’s pro elite race. After taking second in the first stage on Sunday, Aug. 10, Linden topped the podium in the second and third stages. 

Sporting the yellow leader’s jersey, Linden continued her winning ways on Wednesday morning for the fourth stage. Linden won her third-consecutive stage with a time of 4:09:31 while Dallas, Texas’s Lauren Stephens took second (4:13:23) and Prescott, Arizona’s Julie Momber took third (4:20:01).

Despite sporting a substantial lead, Linden continued to keep her foot on the pedal in her first Breck Epic. On Stage 5 on Thursday, Linden took first again, completing the course in a time 3:45:59. 

With a nearly 14 minute cushion, Linden continued to push her body to the limit over the final stage on Friday. After four-straight days of leading the field, Linden secured her fifth stage win of the race, finishing Stage 6 in a time of 2:30:08.

The win further solidified Linden’s spot on the top of the podium, combining for a total time of 22:02:13. Beating the rest of the field by close to 18 minutes, Linden was grateful to have a strong, healthy and incredible race.

“I was really excited for this one,” Linden said. “This is my first Breck Epic, but we actually have a family house over in Summit Cove and to ride these home trails essentially and race them — it’s amazing. … I really, really wanted this one. I am a little overdue for some podium time, and it just feels really good coming back from back surgery last year. I am just really loving my time on the mountain bike.”

Linden was followed by Stephens in second (22:20:24) and Momber in third (22:53:55). Rounding out the top five was Syd Schulz of Los Alamos, New Mexico (23:15:52) and Stella Hobbs of Whitefish, Montana (23:40:08).

Champions were also crowned in the men’s and women’s Mega Epic. Tasked with completing all six stages in a fastest-known-time format, Buena Vista’s Jeff Kerkove set the fastest time for the men with a time of 1 day, 10 hours and 57 minutes. 

Breckenridge’s Chris Fisher finished the Mega Epic in second with a time of 2 days, 35 minutes. 

Nora Fierman set the fastest time for the women’s field with a time of 2 days, 5 hours and 1 minute. At the time of publication, a second woman had not finished the race. For live tracking, visit TrackLeaders.com. 

For a full list of Breck Epic results, visit BreckEpic.itsyourrace.com.