The series is contested by 30 women and 30 men, with a total prize purse of $250,000, paid to the top 10 finishers with the most points earned in five of the six races: $25,000 for first place, $20,000 for second place, $16,000 for third place, and so on. 3 Three events (Crusher in the Tushar, Chequamegon MTB Festival, and Sea Otter Classic) will have individual cash prizes, which will also be awarded to Grand Prix Series participants.
The women's roster includes an unexpected name in three-time US Road Olympian and two-time time trial world champion Amber Neben, who calls the series "a fun post-Olympic challenge," and recently retired American road cyclist Ruth Winder was also named. On the men's side, Canadian road cyclist Rob Britton, who also retired this season, made the list, along with American Ashton Lambie, who broke the individual pursuit world record in track three times.
Ashton Lambie, a native of Nebraska, a fierce gravel racing area, said, "I've been in and out of gravel racing for several years, and I love the community and the opportunity for riders of all levels to take on new challenges."
Organizers made the surprising decision to increase the invitation-only slots from a total of 40 to a total of 60 riders, keeping the field balanced between men and women.
"We were overwhelmed by the response from over 200 applicants to the inaugural Lifetime Grand Prix," said Kimo Seymour, Lifetime's President of Events and Media. 'The selection process was so difficult that we ultimately decided to increase the number of applicants from 40 to 60.' We send our heartfelt thanks to all who applied and congratulate those who were selected. Our intent was to establish a group of athletes that would not only establish a competitive field, but also be great advocates for the growth of professional cycling in North America."
Among the top athletes on the women's list are cyclocross rider Rebecca Farlinger, professional mountain bike racers and Olympians Erin Hack and Lee Davison, and accomplished gravel riders Rose Grant and Casey Armstrong, Amity Rockwell.
"I feel like everything I have built up in my life over the past 7+ years since I started wanting to race bicycles. I want to continue to grow and do my best to continue to elevate the sport and its great people and play a close personal role in shaping off-road endurance cycling into a fair and beneficial sport in America," Rockwell said in a press statement.
The men's field will include top gravel contenders such as Peter Stetina, Colin Strickland, Lawrence Tendam, Adam Roberge, and Ben King, as well as versatile athletes Alex Howes and Lachlan Morton.
Stetina said, "I am delighted to be a part of this inaugural event to help develop off-road racing in the US, to help promote the series and the effort behind it, and to compete for the prize money that truly professionals deserve."
Despite being gravel regulars, standouts from the women's list included unbound gravel champion Lauren De Crescenzo (Cinch Cycling), who won the 200-mile race, and 100-mile champion Lauren Stevens (TIBCO- Silicon Valley Bank). Both still have road schedules and are trying to balance gravel racing and trade teams.
"I think what Lifetime is doing is great, but this series doesn't align with my personal goals. My primary goal next year is to be the best gravel racer to defend my titles at Unbound, SBT, and Gravel Worlds. I still have a few road goals as well, including TT Nationals." So at this point in my career I want to focus 100% on my road and gravel dreams."
The six-race series begins on April 9 with the Fuego 100k, a new cross-country mountain bike race in Monterey, California, as part of the Lifetime Sea Otter Classic, and concludes on October 22 with the second race in Bentonville, Arkansas. and will conclude with the second race of the Lifetime Big Sugar Gravel on October 22 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
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