The Life Time Grand Prix sequence should have the ultimate occasion of 2024 to play out, however consideration is already turning to what’s forward for 2025, with some shifts to the format introduced that organisers are hoping will add one other layer within the 12 months forward.
Shifts that may make the sequence look a bit totally different subsequent season are athlete numbers – which is able to drop to 25 ladies and 25 males – a range that features three wildcard entries after two occasions and a few adjustments to which races are included.
“We’re excited to announce these updates to the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix as we consider it’ll make the fourth version of the sequence probably the most dynamic one but,” Kimo Seymour, Life Time President Media & Occasions stated in a media launch saying the plans for 2025.
“We’re simply wrapping up the 2024 sequence – solely our third season – however we’ve already seen immense progress in our aim of bringing extra followers and rising the game of biking domestically. From regularly offered out occasions to the success of our Life Time Grand Prix Race Highlights recap video sequence on YouTube, it’s clear the urge for food for skilled and leisure off-road biking within the U.S. is continuous to develop.”
What will not be persevering with to develop, nevertheless is the occasion numbers, with a reshuffle of what’s included leading to a six occasion competitors, with 5 begins essential to be eligible for the prize cash and the highest 5 occasion outcomes figuring out the sequence placings.
Each Crushar within the Tushar – cancelled this 12 months on account of fires within the area – and the Rad Grime Fest – added in as a wildcard in 2023 – are off the agenda whereas Life Time Little Sugar MTB might be added within the week earlier than the necessary Massive Sugar Gravel closes out the racing. The sequence kicks off a bit in a different way in 2025 as effectively, with the traditional season starter of the Fuego XL 100K MTB at Sea Otter Basic swapped out for the LIfe Time Sea Otter Basic Gravel.
The Life Time Grand Prix starter on April 11 and Unbound Gravel on Might 31 can even be occasions that may open the door for one more three males and three ladies to lever their approach in.
The sequence, which in 2024 had 30 ladies and 30 males on the beginning roster, will this 12 months be a contest between 25 riders or 50 throughout each classes. Nevertheless, solely 22 males and 22 ladies might be named when the roster comes out in early November, three spots in every division left for wildcard entries. The highest scorers within the two opening occasions, from amongst those that missed out after they utilized for one of many wanted sequence spots, will get the second likelihood at entry into the 2025 season.
Purposes open on October 14 and run via to October 28, with no automated athlete acceptance course of. The preliminary sequence roster for 2025 ought to be set by November 7 with the wildcard entrants confirmed after Unbound. Prize cash particulars are but to be launched.
Earlier than the main focus shifts to 2025, nevertheless, there may be nonetheless another spherical of the 2024 occasion to play out, Massive Sugar Gravel on October 19. Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Specialised) and Keegan Swenson (Santa Cruz) look set to keep up their sequence dominance, each on high of the leaderboard heading into the ultimate spherical.
2025 Occasions
- Friday April 11 – Life Time Sea Otter Basic Gravel introduced by Continental
- Saturday Might 31 – Life Time Unbound Gravel 200
- Saturday August 9 – Life Time Leadville Path 100 MTB introduced by Kenetik
- Saturday September 13 – Life Time Chequamegon Mountain Bike Competition
- Sunday October 12 – Life Time Little Sugar MTB
- Saturday October 18 – Life Time Massive Sugar Gravel introduced by Mazda
