Justinas Leveika’s Epic Finish: 2024 Arizona Trail 800

At 1:48 a.m. on Friday, with just two witnesses awaiting him at the finish line, Justinas Leveika claimed victory in the 2024 Arizona Trail 800, crossing the finish in 7 days, 19 hours, and 48 minutes. Not only did this win seal his Triple Crown of bikepacking—adding to his Tour Divide FKT and the Colorado Trail Race—but it capped an awe-inspiring season. His first words on finishing? “What an idiot!” he laughed, but his elation was clear.

Steady, Strategic, and Smooth

Leveika approached the Arizona Trail with the same unflinching consistency that has become his hallmark: smooth, fast, and incredibly efficient. Fellow racers admired his meticulous approach to everything from riding to rest stops. Were it not for a detour around the Highline Trail fire, this might well have been another FKT to add to his list. Yet, a win is a win, and Leveika’s AZT800 title was well-earned.

From start to finish, Leveika led almost the entire way, relying on minimal rest and steady forward momentum. He squeezed in two brief, substantial rests after Picketpost and on the Mogollon Rim, while his closest competitor, Alex Schulz, stayed near him for much of the race’s first half before Leveika broke away for good.

Pushing Through and Finding Joy

While the fire detour briefly took the edge off his FKT hopes, Leveika made the best of it, even stopping by That Brewery in Pine for a beer. He found his rhythm again soon after, noting, “I started to find joy again.” Along the Flagstaff stretch, spectators turned out to cheer him on, each dotwatcher adding a spark to his final miles.

As he approached the Grand Canyon at sunset, Leveika took full advantage of the stunning golden hour. He trekked through the canyon from dusk till dawn, both sparing himself the awkward daylight questions about carrying his bike across the Big Ditch and soaking in the sunrise glow. He quipped, “It’s taken me places, now I’m taking it places.”

Emerging from the Canyon, his Instagram updates revealed a mix of manic exhaustion and exhilaration. “Is there anything more ridiculous you can do in a bike race?” he asked about the canyon portage.

Snowy Setbacks and Triumphant Finish

Snow on the North Rim was another unexpected hurdle. Thru-hikers proved less-than-reliable guides, and after hours wading through fresh snow with wet, frozen feet, Leveika finally hit clear dirt, swiftly covering the final stretch to the border. Reflecting on the ordeal, he said, “I was learning new things about myself.”

Leveika’s final descent was graced by clear skies and mild temperatures, the last winding switchbacks bathed in moonlight. “As I was descending, I thought: this is not bad. I’m going to remember this for a while,” he reflected. His take on the Arizona Trail 800? “It’s so absurd, it’s beautiful.”

And while he left the door open for a faster finish—“If I were to do it again, seven days isn’t impossible”—for now, Leveika deserves a well-earned rest after an extraordinary season that has set a new standard in the world of bikepacking.