Winning on Wax: Why Leadville Champions Keegan Swenson and Melisa Rollins Trust SILCA

At the highest level of cycling, races can be decided by seconds. Riders obsess over tyre pressure, aerodynamics, bike weight and nutrition — but there’s another area where valuable watts can be saved: the drivetrain.

At the 2026 Leadville Trail 100 MTB, two of the biggest names in American off-road racing showed just how seriously elite riders take drivetrain preparation.

Keegan Swenson and Melisa Rollins both raced to victory as SILCA athletes, with SILCA wax-based drivetrain products forming part of their high-performance equipment choices. (SILCA⁠)

So why would riders at this level choose wax?

Leadville: A Race Where Efficiency Matters

Leadville isn’t your average mountain bike race.

Held at extreme altitude in Colorado, the legendary “Race Across the Sky” takes riders above 12,500 feet at Columbine Mine. The 2026 edition was modified because of a nearby wildfire, removing several steep sections and reducing the course to just under 10,000 feet of elevation gain. (SILCA⁠)

The changes made the race unusually fast and tactical.

That placed even greater importance on rolling resistance, aerodynamics and drivetrain efficiency. When riders are sitting in fast-moving groups and preparing for attacks or a sprint, unnecessary drivetrain friction is something nobody wants to carry for hours.

And Keegan Swenson’s race proved just how important small margins can become.

Keegan Swenson: Winning by the Smallest of Margins

Swenson arrived at Leadville as the dominant force of the men’s race.

But instead of riding away solo, the faster 2026 course kept a large group together much deeper into the event.

It ultimately came down to something rarely associated with a 100-mile high-altitude mountain bike race:

A sprint finish.

Swenson edged Matthew Wilson at the line, winning in 5:20:26 and claiming his sixth consecutive Leadville victory. (SILCA⁠)

When a 100-mile race comes down to a sprint, the concept of “marginal gains” suddenly doesn’t seem very marginal.

And Swenson’s history at Leadville gives us a particularly interesting look at how seriously he takes his chain preparation.

BikeRadar documented Swenson’s Leadville race bike using a chain treated with two SILCA SpeedChips, SILCA’s performance additive for hot-melt wax. The publication noted that the product is designed to be combined with hot wax to further improve drivetrain efficiency. (BikeRadar⁠)

That is professional-level attention being paid to something many recreational riders still overlook completely.

Melisa Rollins: SILCA Super Secret on a Leadville-Winning Bike

Melisa Rollins’ equipment provides another great example.

Ahead of the 2026 Leadville 100, SILCA published a detailed look at Rollins’ custom Liv Pique Advanced 29.

Alongside her RockShox Flight Attendant suspension, Continental Dubnital tyres and SILCA sealant was another important detail:

SILCA Super Secret chain wax.

SILCA specifically described Rollins as using Super Secret for “clean, fast, and efficient pedaling” heading into Leadville. (SILCA⁠)

Then she went out and won.

Rollins’ race wasn’t straightforward either. She crashed early on the St. Kevin’s sector before having to chase back toward the leaders.

She eventually caught Cecily Decker after the Columbine turnaround before riding away solo to take the women’s victory. (SILCA⁠)

It’s important to be clear: chain wax didn’t win the race for Rollins — Rollins did.

The same applies to Swenson.

But their equipment choices demonstrate an important point: when professional athletes and their mechanics are looking for every possible efficiency advantage, waxed drivetrains are part of the conversation.

Why Wax?

Traditional oil-based chain lubricants can work extremely well, but they have one significant disadvantage: oil attracts contamination.

Dust, dirt and grit can combine with lubricant to form an abrasive paste inside the drivetrain.

A properly prepared waxed chain works differently.

Instead of relying on a sticky oil film, wax penetrates the chain before solidifying. This can create an extremely low-friction interface while remaining significantly cleaner.

For racing, that potentially means:

• Lower drivetrain friction
• Less contamination sticking to the chain
• A cleaner drivetrain
• Reduced abrasive wear
• Consistent performance over long distances
• The ability to use race-specific wax additives such as SILCA SpeedChip

SILCA launched its Secret Chain Blend hot wax in 2021 and says the product has performed at the top of independent lubricant testing. (SILCA⁠)

More importantly for riders wondering whether wax is genuinely being used at the highest level, we can see it directly in the equipment choices of athletes such as Swenson and Rollins.

Wax Isn’t Just for Professionals

This is where things get interesting for everyday cyclists.

You don’t need to be racing Leadville to benefit from reducing drivetrain friction.

A professional rider might chase tiny efficiency improvements because a race can come down to seconds. But recreational road cyclists, gravel riders, mountain bikers and triathletes can benefit from the other advantages of a properly prepared waxed drivetrain too.

A cleaner drivetrain means less black oily mess.

Less contamination can mean reduced wear.

And a properly prepared hot-melt waxed chain can deliver an exceptionally smooth, quiet and efficient drivetrain.

The difference is that professional riders have mechanics preparing equipment for them.

That’s exactly where I’ll Wax Ya comes in.

Get the Pro Treatment Without the Hassle

Hot-melt waxing isn’t difficult once you understand the process — but correctly stripping, preparing and waxing a chain takes time, equipment and attention to detail.

At I’ll Wax Ya, we take care of that process for you.

Whether you’re preparing for your next race, chasing a PB or simply want a cleaner and more efficient drivetrain, we can prepare your chain using premium wax systems including SILCA.

Because you might not be lining up alongside Keegan Swenson or Melisa Rollins at Leadville…

but there’s no reason your drivetrain can’t get the same kind of attention.

The Bottom Line

Keegan Swenson and Melisa Rollins didn’t win Leadville because of chain wax alone.

They won because they’re exceptional athletes.

But elite racing is about stacking advantages — fitness, equipment, nutrition, aerodynamics, tyre setup and drivetrain efficiency.

Swenson’s Leadville drivetrain has been independently documented using SILCA SpeedChip-treated wax, while Rollins’ 2026 Leadville bike was specifically documented using SILCA Super Secret chain wax. Both went on to win the 2026 Leadville Trail 100. (BikeRadar⁠)

If waxed chains are trusted when winning one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world, they’re worth considering for your bike too.

References & Further Reading

SILCA — Winning on Wax in the Sky: How Swenson and Rollins Mastered an Epic 2026 Leadville 100
Confirms Swenson and Rollins as SILCA athletes and documents their victories at the 2026 Leadville Trail 100. (SILCA⁠)
Read the SILCA Leadville article⁠

SILCA — From Injury to the Stars and Stripes: Melisa Rollins’ Comeback and Her Custom Leadville Liv Pique
Documents Rollins’ Leadville bike setup and specifically identifies SILCA Super Secret chain wax as part of the build. (SILCA⁠)
Read Melisa Rollins’ Leadville bike feature⁠

BikeRadar — Keegan Swenson Leadville Bike Tech
Independent reporting on Swenson’s Leadville setup, including a chain treated with two SILCA SpeedChips as part of his waxed drivetrain preparation. (BikeRadar⁠)
Read BikeRadar’s Keegan Swenson bike feature⁠

SILCA — 2025 Leadville 100 MTB
Additional background showing Swenson’s long-running success at Leadville and SILCA’s involvement with elite Leadville athletes and drivetrain preparation. (SILCA⁠)
Read SILCA’s 2025 Leadville report⁠